Read this overview of chat software capabilities, complete with a administrator check list of software features. This textual real-time way of communicating is very popular with people who have special interests. It allows people to join a conversation in a public meeting room during most any hour of the day.
Scheduled chats allow people to meet at predefined times to discuss topics of special interest.
Chat software is used to create customer support centers, interactive training facilities, business meetings, special interest groups and just plain get-togethers. Chat rooms are a cost effective means to talk to others in different countries where a telephone call would be cost prohibitive. Chat rooms offer an alternative form of communication to email, telephone, regular mail, and in person communication. Chat software is categorized as either IRC or Web-based. The IRC technology is older than the newer Web-based chat technology.