IP.Chat Beta Testing

[Charles]

The first public beta release of the new IP.Chat service is now available to all active IP.Board and IPS Community Hosting customers. If you are not familiar with the chat service the original announcement is quoted at the bottom of this post.

Notes

[*]This is a beta release so there will be issues. Please keep an eye on this topic, or even use the Watch this topic option, as we will update this topic when there are updates or other known issues. [*]The primary purpose of this beta is to test the basic functionality of chat: message exchange. The message exchange is handled by IPS servers so we are doing load testing during this beta. [*]We have lots of new features and options planned and feel free to post suggestions for the service but please keep in mind, for the purpose of this beta, we are not after huge list of feature requests. The goal is to make a good, stable platform for basic chat that we can add new features to at a later date. [*]The only package available right now is the Free package option. This package will be limited to 5 online users when the service goes live but for the beta phase it is unlimited. [*]We may do server maintenance or shut down the service now and then for other purposes. If it will be down for an extended period we will post in this topic. Don't use the chat in a critical environment as it will probably go up and down as we test. [*]The chat does not work with Opera browser.

How to Order

[*]Order as normal, the package is free so you will not be charged. (if the system prompts you for payment information just skip/ignore that prompt and go back to the Client Area home page - we are working on fixing that error) [*]Go to Your Downloads and download the IP.Chat package. [*]Go to Your Purchases and select the IP.Chat package. [*]To use IP.Chat it must be associated with an IP.Board or IPS Community Hosting package. Select the package to associate with and you will then see a chat service key appear. Installation [*]If you are not on IP.Board 3.0.4, upgrade to it. [*]Important: Login to your IP.Board AdminCP and then go to Manage Applications & Modules. Look for a Chat Services application already installed. If you see it, click the drop down menu and then Remove Application (if you don't then ignore this step). This will delete the old chat services application which was for integration with Parachat and Addonchat. Of course, if you are using those services, do not remove that application but you will not be able to use IP.Chat until you do. [*]Upload all files contained within the upload directory of the IP.Chat zip file. This is just like installing any other application in IP.Board. [*]Go to Manage Applications & Modules in your IP.Board AdminCP. [*]Select the Install link next to the Chat Services application. [*]Once the install is complete you can go to My Apps and select Chat Services. Just enter the chat service key found under Your Purchases in the Client Area to activate. Original IP.Chat service announcement: This chat service would run inside of your IPB install much like Gallery or Blog however the actual exchange of chat messages would be handled by IPS servers. The high volume of transactions needed for a chat room would probably get you banned from most web hosting providers and, even if you have high-end hosting, it requires a specially tuned server to perform well. You can forget that headache and let us handle the transactions. Chat room statistics and access to log archives will of course be available for owners. Testing For the time being, we will only have the chat room open here on our company forums when an IPS staff member opens it. We are looking to test both the interface you use for chatting and the back-end server performance so we need online staff to monitor both sides of the exchange. So keep an eye for the chat link to appear in the top navigation or a "who's chatting" area to show up on the home page under statistics. When you see this then you know the room is available for testing :) Please post bugs in the bug tracker under the IP.Chat category. You can post feedback here in the feedback forum or just reply to this topic. Please keep in mind this would be a version 1.0.0 so, although we can add all sorts of cool stuff over time, we are focusing on a nice, stable chat room right now. Things like private conversations, multiple rooms, and more are on our list but we must perfect the base chat room before adding on all the extras. Please note that this is the first test of many users in the chat room so there will probably be issues. We will also be doing server-level testing so you might get kicked out now and again or the service may abruptly close so don't take it personally ;). Your feedback on all areas of the chat from features through usability down to speed of chat responses is appreciated. Pricing The pricing of the chat service is yet to be announced and will be based on how many people you have in your chat room at one time. Details of the package levels and pricing will be made available at a later date. The good news is that the first chat package level will be free for active IPB license holders. We hope you enjoy that extra benefit to being a license holder.

1. Login to the Client Area and go to New Purchase. Find IP.Chat: Free under Invision Power Board Optional Addons and click Buy Now.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

We are investigating the possibility of offering a chat service for IPB directly from IPS.

[Charles]

We neglected to post yesterday that Beta 2 is in the client area now. Just reupload the files.

[bfarber]

Beta 3 has just been released to your client area. You will need to upgrade to beta 3 before Chat will be functional for you again.

Some important highlights of this update

1) IE7 support fixed
2) Opera support added
3) Clarification of error messages
4) Backend changes that should rectify some of the connectivity issues some of you have faced

Note that you will need to run the full upgrade process. You cannot only upload the files as there are new language bits and skin changes that IPB needs to import.

[Charles]

Beta 4 has been released to fix joining the chat room errors and other smaller issues.