Earlier in the week, WhatsApp announced it was dropping support for Android 2.1/2.2, Windows Phone 7.1, Nokia S40, Symbian S60 and BlackBerry OS platforms by the end of this year. While these are much older and rather antiquated platforms, the company also included BlackBerry 10 in the list of platforms they were dropping.
The Facebook-owned business explained that these platforms don’t offer “the kind of capabilities†it needs to expand.
You might think losing one app isn’t a big deal, but this is WhatsApp. The app currently boasts a billion users and over 10 billion messages are sent through it every day.  Moreover, these are a billion Monthly Active Users and not those who merely register for the service and then forget about it.
BlackBerry isn’t losing some small fry app, it’s losing a colossus – and BlackBerry know it! Whether the decision to drop BlackBerry 10 is down to the perception of a lack of development on the platform or simply market share driven is unclear at this point, probably a bit of both.
The problem goes way beyond losing an app though. It adds to the general perception that BlackBerry 10 is an operating system that is on life support, regardless of how many times BlackBerry state otherwise.
A spokesperson once again stated today:
“While the app landscape continues to evolve, our commitment to BlackBerry 10 and our developers is unwavering.”
Interestingly, the company state that they are “exploring alternatives” to the loss of WhatsApp.
“We are actively exploring alternatives for BlackBerry users once support of WhatsApp Messenger for BBOS and BlackBerry 10 ends in late 2016.“
This message was reiterated on Twitter.
1/2 @WhatsApp on #BB10 & BBOS til end of 2016. We are working on other options.
 BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) March 3, 2016
What is interesting is that BlackBerry mention other options and not simply the expected reply to use BBM. Confusingly, after mentioning other options the company once again refer users to BBM.
“For the most secure messaging platform, consumers can use BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) on BlackBerry OS or BlackBerry 10 and securely communicate and share images and videos with others around the world” the spokesperson explained, “even with users on iPhone, Android and Windows Mobile devices.‎”
BlackBerry again took to twitter to reiterate this.
2/2 @WhatsApp continues on #PRIV. And have you checked out the secure, cross-platform @BBM lately?
 BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) March 3, 2016
It would appear that BlackBerry’s miscommunication skills are at work again here as they seem to be saying two different things. One is that they are exploring other options and the other is for users to use BBM.
BlackBerry has been pushing Android heavily recently and the spokesperson noted:
“Users of BlackBerry Priv, which runs on Android, will not be impacted.”
BlackBerry users can pick up the BlackBerry Priv, its current flagship handset. It runs Lollipop so there’s full support for WhatsApp, with Marshmallow due to be released shortly.
However, that doesn’t solve the issue for BlackBerry users who prefer to stick with BlackBerry 10.
BlackBerry seem to believe that if they repeat the same statement enough times, users, developers and the media will listen to them. However, it will take more than words for BlackBerry to convince many that BlackBerry 10 is not on its deathbed.
The company cannot simply state that in 2016, BlackBerry 10 will only receive two OS security-related updates and not expect a bit of negativity surrounding the future of the OS, beyond 2016.  If they want to convince the masses that BlackBerry 10 is alive and kicking and has a general future outside of government bodies, etc, then they need to produce something tangible – and quickly.
If BlackBerry can’t upgrade, maintain and enhance their own apps like Facebook and Twitter, why should they expect 3rd parties to do so. BlackBerry need to produce something other than words to convince users they still believe in BlackBerry 10.  If they don’t, WhatsApp could simply be the beginning as other companies drop their own apps from the platform.
