Smartphones and iPhones are among the devices scheduled to miss the WhatsApp texting services by the start of 2017.

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According to reports in the media, the app will stop its operations on millions of smartphones at the start of 2017 unless they are upgraded.

With more than a billion monthly users, WhatsApp is phasing out its compatibility with old phones in a technology upgrade.

"While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they do not offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app's features in the future," said a statement as quoted by The Mirror reported on Saturday.

Quoting a WhatsApp spokesman, the report continued:

"As we look ahead to our next seven years, we want to focus our efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use.”

"For iPhone users, WhatsApp will stop working on any iPhone 3GS and will also stop being supported on any device running iOS 6," reported Manchester Evening News.

WhatsApp will also stop on any first, second, third or fourth generation iPads that will not have been updated to iOS 9.3.

Any phone or tablet running on Android 2.1 or 2.2 OS will also not be supported.

Any device using Windows 7 will also miss out on the essential texting app.

However, contrary to an earlier notice to Blackberry users, WhatsApp will be extending support for BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry OS, Nokia Symbian S60 and Nokia S40 till June 30, 2017.