Google confirms that it will soon start blocking access to some of its most popular apps and services on older smartphones.
The tech giant plans to remove support for some of its apps from a number of Android devices. This includes YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail.
The move could leave millions of people around the world locked out of key software. That is unless they update or buy a new mobile phone.
Google announced on their website a deadline of 27 September. From this date onward, the firm will block those on devices using Android 2.3 from signing in with a Google Account. It is withdrawing support for the older version of its operating system, launched in December 2010, as part of ongoing efforts to keep users safe.
The tech giant regularly stops supporting older versions of its operating system as it releases new ones. This is because the ageing Android software is more susceptible to hackers and bugs.
The latest version of Google’s operating system is Android 11, so 2.3 is way behind the software currently run on the majority of smartphones.
However, this is not the first time that Google has removed support for services on Android 2.3. In February 2017, it stopped Google Pay contactless payments from working on devices running the outdated software.
What will happen?
When support is pulled for the older version of the operating system, any users with a device running the software will find themselves unable to log in to their Google account. Even if they enter in the right log in details, they will receive a username and password error. They will also receive an error if they attempt to add a Google Calendar or Gmail account to the handset’s settings menu.
Additionally, other Google owned apps will stop working, including the Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, and more.
To continue using these apps and services, the smartphone will need updating to Android 3.0. Something which can be easily done in the device’s system settings. However, not all phones currently on Android 2.3 are able to upgrade to a newer version of the operating system. This means users on these devices will remain locked out forever.
Smartphones that will stop working with the apps include Sony Xperia Advance, Sony Xperia Go, Sony Xperia P, Sony Xperia S, Samsung Galaxy S2, LG Spectrum, LG Prada 3.0, HTC Velocity, HTC Evo 4G, Motorola Fire, Motorola XT532, Lenovo K800, and Vodafone Smart II.
If users are unable to upgrade their device, they may get around it by bypassing the apps and logging into some services directly via their internet browser.
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