WhatsApp to end support for Windows Phone-based smartphones

WhatsApp on Tuesday announced it will stop supporting Windows Phone-based smartphones after December 31, 2019.

The end of support means WhatsApp will no longer release bug fixes, updates and add new features on the platform. The app on such platforms may also see some of the features stop functioning at any time.

Windows Phone, a discontinued operating system from Microsoft, has mere 0.28% mobile OS market share, according to Statcounter. This, for reference, is against Android's 74.85%.

The operating system powered handful of Nokia Lumia phones such as Lumia 638 and Lumia 540 among others.

Microsoft has already ended support for all versions of Windows Phone and even asked Windows users to move to Android, iOS and other platforms.

"Following Microsoft's recent decision to end support for Windows Mobile devices in December, WhatsApp will release its final update for Windows phones in June. WhatsApp will continue working on Windows phones through the end of the year," said a WhatsApp spokesperson.

Prior to Windows Phone, WhatsApp has ended support for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1, Android 2.2, Windows Phone 7, iPhone 3G/iOS 6.

WhatsApp has also announced ending support for Android versions 2.3.7 and older after February 1, 2020, and iPhone iOS 7 and older after February 1, 2020.