Can I integrate / install live chat in my phpbb forum

I am not sure if this is possible.
so, just wanted to know

I have seen live chat in webpages, but not in forums
Is it possible to integrate / install live chat in phpBB forums, so that users can ping available Admin / Moderators and resolve any technical issues they might be facing. It would be an added bonus if the chat transcript can be saved within the forum as well

So, Doable?

 

Why not just make a board for technical questions?
Just make a point of responding ASAP!
Most live chat options will charge per user and will require log in through a website rather than from your forum.
If you want to have more than one operator it will get expensive.

 

Most live chat is hosted SaaS software. If you want to install a live chat into your phpBB forums, you just need to paste the HTML chat code to your forum code.

 

Yes, a good option to start with. You can consider zopim as the chat software which comes with one user license for free with one concurrent chat. It provides you with a web based dashboard to accept the chats. It is very used friendly.

You just need to add the code in footer file and you are good to go.

 

EDIT: Sorry just realized this thread is absolutely ancient!

You can integrate by using the phpbb3 sessions -> https://www.phpbb.com/kb/article/phpbb3-sessions-integration/

<?php
if ($user->data['user_id'] == ANONYMOUS)
{
  echo 'Please login!';
}
 
else
{
  echo 'Thanks for logging in, ' . $user->data['username_clean']; // Here your chat code will go in.
}
?>

PHP:

There's lots of tutorials available to make a chat, its basic PHP & MySQL, example of a tutorial -> http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/javascript-ajax/how-to-create-a-simple-web-based-chat-application/ Other option would be to use a add-on of phpbb3 -> https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/mod/mchat_new_version/

 

Have you thought about using a shout box?

 

I've used this mod on my forum without a problem:

http://startrekguide.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=127&t=8675

You can see a demo of it here:

http://startrekguide.com/community/chat.php

 

Have you checked out Olark? Free and fantastic!