Facebook and WhatsApp has decided to end all support for BlackBerry smartphones. This includes BlackBerry 10 handsets and other smartphones running the BBOS platform. They have decided to discontinue its essential APIs for BlackBerry, which will affect the working of the existing Facebook and WhatsApp apps on all devices running BBOS. However, BlackBerry has replaced the official BB Facebook App with a native app that uses a simple web interface.
‘We are extremely disappointed in their decision as we know so many users love these apps. We fought back to work with WhatsApp and Facebook to change their minds, but at this time, their decision stands’, mentions BlackBerry on their blog. ‘Despite this, we have worked hard to ensure our end users have the best experience in light of this decision, and are continuing to search for alternate solutions,’ they added.
BlackBerry smartphone users will have to download a mandatory update to the Facebook App by March end. The app will cease to work on BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry 7.1 handsets, and the change will highly impact BB users. BlackBerry users will also suffer loss of notifications from the said applications and will no longer be able to integrate Facebook contacts with their BB contacts. Sharing of photos and other related content will also be largely affected on BlackBerry handsets.
BlackBerry has also expressed disappointment with Facebook's decision. Previously, WhatsApp had also announced their plans to stop support on all BlackBerry handsets last month.
This could be an added reason for BlackBerry to start shipping their smartphones with Android operating system rather than their own BBOS.
