Today’s world, unlike in the past, revolves on social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The most popular program, WhatsApp, is set to stop working on various mobile devices as of November 1st, according to the manufacturers. This, according to the service provider, is required since the operating systems of such devices have grown outmoded.
Furthermore, the program will no longer support some platforms, and future upgrades will be unavailable to them. The instant messaging service WhatsApp will be unavailable to users of those smartphone types.
In an interview with GBC News, Emmanuel Gadasu, a Mobile Application Developer and Data Protection Officer, emphasized that Android smartphones running Android 4.0.4 and earlier versions will no longer support the messaging app. Mr. Gadasu stated that IOS versions below nine are at danger of being affected in the case of Apple mobile phones.
“The most recent Android version that we have is 12, thus those who would be affected, according to WhatsApp’s notification, are those who have Android versions lower than 4. However, if the hardware can handle an upgrade to the most recent version of Android, which is Android 5 and higher, WhatsApp will work on that system.
Fast forward, we have IOS 15 so WhatsApp is saying that it cannot support any device below nine, so from nine downwards WhatsApp will not work on those ones as well”.
Some members of the public shared their thoughts on this development.
Paapa told GBC News that he was unaware of the directive “I’ve never read any article or heard certain phones will be excluded from the WhatsApp services on Monday”.
Kwame is an Uber driver he said “I have not heard about it, but since I’m an Uber driver and the application will be working on my phone I’m not scared. I can do WhatsApp on my laptop”.
Sosu Dogbe an artisan also said “I heard unless you’re using a heavy phone you can’t access WhatsApp. But now there is no money to buy a heavy phone and I’m not happy at all”.
A student named Gloria indicated, “I’m just hearing it and I’m even surprised, no wonder my phone has been fooling these days”.
WhatsApp goes off on several smartphones today
At Tip-Toe Lane at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in the capital Accra, which is a hub in the sale and repair of mobile phones, it was business as usual. Some phone dealers were not aware of the development while others were in the know. One of such is Freddie’s Corner, Sales Manager Ebenezer Kumi, said they have in the last couple of days been sensitizing clients to the issue for them to make informed choices.
“We have the latest Android smartphone with the latest operating system. But we also educate customers that this is the situation”.
Mr. Kumi is, however, unhappy about apprehension among the public which he said had affected business.
“Some people have the perception that it’s all phones, which is very bad, so for the past couple of weeks due to that it has affected the market”.
Manuel Ekuban had travelled from Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region to Accra for various undertakings. One of his assignments in Accra is to acquire a new mobile phone to replace his faulty one. Oblivious of this development, he called for more sensitization on the matter.
“Now that you have made me aware then I will factor it, but how will I know that this phone will not support WhatsApp or not. The education is low because this is the first time I am hearing. It will still be in the system so whoever is in charge will have to help us”.
Social media and especially WhatsApp is today a part of everyday life.
On Monday October, 4, 2021, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all suffered outages, if you felt the six-hour outage was unpleasant then brace yourself for the worse should you be found in this category.
Source: GBC
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