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After WhatsApp, Facebook is also ditching support for BlackBerry


It’s just a few weeks since WhatsApp announced that it is killing support for Blackberry and other older devices. Of course this did not go on well with most Blackberry users and it seems Facebook is following in the same footsteps. Faceebook has also decided to ditch support for blackberry.

What this means is that Blackberry users won’t be able to use the apps for Facebook and of course WhatsApp, but instead will have to visit mobile sites through a browser to use them.

BlackBerry senior marketing manager Lou Gazzola said in a blog post that the company is extremely disappointed in the decision by Facebook ” to end support for BlackBerry 10 and BBOS at the end of this year.’’ Adding that WhatsApp has also decided to end support for the products.

‘’The app landscape continues to evolve, and in ways that are not always within our control’’ Gazzola added. ‘’We fought back to work with WhatsApp and Facebook to change their minds, but at this time, their decision stands’’

He urged users to to share their concerns on social media using the hashtag (#ILoveBB10Apps), reiterating the fact that they have worked hard to ensure Blackberry end users have the best experience in light of this decision as they continue to search for alternative solutions.

When WhatsApp ditched BlackBerry, it said wanted to focus our efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use.  So by the end of 2016, it indicated it was ending support for WhatsApp Messenger on BlackBerry, including BlackBerry 10 and other older devices like the Nokia S40, Nokia Symbian S60, Android 2.1 and Android 2.2 and Windows Phone 7.1.

Gazzola says despite these developments their commitment to BlackBerry 10 and to developers has not changed. ‘’We know our developer community continues to be one of the strongest proponents of BlackBerry 10 and they are creating thousands of apps every month.’’

Blackberry says they are now featuring some of the best native applications on BlackBerry World in a list called “Great Apps on BlackBerry.” This category according to them will be a list of 20 applications, featured for two weeks, once per month, similar to the way they feature apps on the BlackBerry World Carousel.

‘’We’re also continuing whenever we can to invest in apps important to users, such as the update to the Twitter app released today with important fixes and another update coming in a month with new features. ‘’ Gazzola concluded.

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Nixon Kanali

Tech journalist based in Nairobi. I track and report on tech and African startups. Founder and Editor of TechTrends Media. Nixon is also the East African tech editor for Africa Business Communities. Send tips to nkanali@techtrendske.co.ke.

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