[Palmer ofShinra]

We have an incredibly simple chat addon for our site.

Since 99% of our members use AOL Instant Messenger, we simply use that for the chat room, keeping things mindbogglingly simple.

Obviously, users who don't have AIM will get error messages... but if you make it clear it's for AIM users only, there shouldn't be a problem.

Edit template HEADER.

Right after:
<a href="search.php?s=$session[sessionhash]"><img src="{imagesfolder}/top_search.gif" alt="Search" border="0"></a>
<a href="index.php?s=$session[sessionhash]"><img src="{imagesfolder}/top_home.gif" alt="Home" border="0"></a>

And before

<!-- <a href="member.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=logout"><img src="{imagesfolder}/top_logout.gif" alt="Logout" border="0"></a></center> -->

ADD

<a href="aim:GoChat?RoomName=Forum+Chat+Room"><img src="{imagesfolder}/top_chat.gif" alt="Chat on AIM" border="0"></a>

Change "Forum+Chat+Room" to whatever the name you want your chat room to be is.

Then make a matching button that says "AIM Chat" or something and upload to your images folder.

Now, whenever a user clicks the button, they will enter the matching AIM Chat room.

Viola.