Internet Live Chat/Help Software

Culchie

Hi Folks,

Couldn't find a specific forum to ask this question, but I guess the 'techies' here will know.

I'm setting up a new website, and I'm looking for an Irish Provider of the 'live web chat' software.

So, if a customer is on the site and requests live help, they just need to ping customer service for immediate assistance.


Regards

Culchie

MrVestek

I dont reckon you'll find an Irish provider of such software TBH. If I'm not mistaken tho, Digichat offer this kind of software as an extension to their digichat 5 java appletts, ya might wanna check out www.digichat.com

Winters

An easy method is to just use an existing IRC network to setup a channel for your site and a web based IRC Java Applet. People will then also be able to connect through their own irc client if they use the irc network.

check out quakenet.org which is the largest irc network and is also European. A quick google will give you free JavaIRC clients, you can easily write your own basic one if you have Java knowledge etc.

DjTaz

How many userswould you be thinking of having on a chat site ? Im just curious cause i could possibly host a small number , but it it gets large there could be an issue

MrVestek

DjTaz... still trying to overthrow Widemouth are we? :-P

Culchie

Well, to be honest it's hard to say, initially very few, but obviously if the business is a success, then I hope it would be quite a few users at one time.

The facility will be proactively used to enhance the customer visit and used as a sales tool, rather than just be a button waiting to be clicked for help.

MrVestek

You might wanna go with DjTaz's idea so. Are you familiar with irc at all? I have an irc applett on my website, http://www.stevetrek.com if you click chat. If you need any help at all in setting up an IRC channel or whatever then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Graham

OK here's a few options for you depending on the technologies available with your web hosting/your specific requirements:

PHP Live Support - available to run on your own server or on a rental/hosted basis: http://www.phplivesupport.com a big plus for this option is it'll run on most browsers without requiring Java/Flash etc. It's also quite reasonably priced and looks fairly professional.

Somebody mentioned Digichat earlier, http://www.digichat.com but this is more for the traditional chat room than support. Again it's available to buy, or you can rent a hosted copy. It does require the clients browser to have/install Java.

Another product by the digichat crowd is groopz http://www.groopz.com it's designed specifically for the ecommerce/support market and as with the other products you can buy your own copy or go the rented/hosted route. Like digichat, groopz also requires clients browsers to have Java installed.

If you're looking for a budget option, I'd suggest PHP live support. It's not that expensive when you keep in mind that whatever product you choose will represent the public face of your customer support. For this reason alone I'd avoid the IRC route. You'll also want to choose carefuly where to host the chat server, it's not going to impress your potential customers if chat is impossibly slow/unreliable.

Hope that helps.

mneylon

There are plenty of web based solutions that would do what you want.
IRC applets do not offer the same level of functionality.

DjTaz

Just offering a little help is all Steve , nothing more ...

misterq

I can recommend PHPLiveSupport (http://www.phplivesupport.com/) as a great piece of software I have been using for years.
They release regular updates and it has been improving steadily with age.

I'm not familiar with any of the others, but if you don't mind spending a few dollars, it is worth a look.