diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 8c5eca8..20253f2 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+- ISSUE #15: Backwards compatibility with previous Arduino IDE (pure virtual functions were not supported);
 - ISSUE #18: Corrected problem with setLEDs() caused by changes in the previous version.
 
 Version 2.0.0
diff --git a/TM16XX.cpp b/TM16XX.cpp
index b05964a..e1f7363 100644
--- a/TM16XX.cpp
+++ b/TM16XX.cpp
@@ -165,3 +165,9 @@ byte TM16XX::receive()
 
   return temp;
 }
+
+#if !defined(ARDUINO) || ARDUINO < 100
+// empty implementation instead of pure virtual for older Arduino IDE
+void TM16XX::sendChar(byte pos, byte data, boolean dot) {}
+#endif
+
diff --git a/TM16XX.h b/TM16XX.h
index 4912cea..1188929 100644
--- a/TM16XX.h
+++ b/TM16XX.h
@@ -59,7 +59,13 @@ class TM16XX
 		const byte font[] = FONT_DEFAULT);
 
   protected:
-	virtual void sendChar(byte pos, byte data, boolean dot) = 0;
+	#if defined(ARDUINO) && ARDUINO >= 100
+		// pure virtual is NOT supported in older Arduino IDE
+		virtual void sendChar(byte pos, byte data, boolean dot) = 0;
+	#else
+		virtual void sendChar(byte pos, byte data, boolean dot);
+	#endif
+	
 	
     virtual void sendCommand(byte led);
     virtual void sendData(byte add, byte data);