I need to implement a chat system for a bank's website, so that customers of the bank can talk to their bank managers one-on-one online over the website.
So what I need is a system which does:
- Shows a list of bank managers in the browser, with status indicating if they're online or not
- Allows the user to open a chat with a manager; probably the user is presented with a new screen or pop-up where they can chat.
- The website is HTTP but the chat needs to be HTTPS therefore I guess having an overlay on the exitsing screen, to do the chat, e.g. like Facebook does it, isn't really plausible
- The manager needs some application or website where they can log on, and chat to their customers.
- Obviously I would prefer an open-source solution if possible.
- We are using Java for most things but it doesn't really matter, I wouldn't mind installing a system in another technology if necessary.
What I've considered so far is:
- Using Jabber/XMPP, communicating over HTTPS using an AJAX client; there are plenty out there, I'm not sure which is best, perhaps JWChat (screenshot). This would have the advantage that a bank manager could use a desktop client (e.g. Windows client) if they preferred, that might have nicer UI if they're using it all day.
- "irc" is also an open protocol, there are no doubt many client implementations available; however I assume there's no way to comply with the security requirement that HTTPS (or perhaps some other secure protocol) is used.
- I do a lot of GWT programming and in the book "GWT Applications" there is a simple instant messaging client implementation (demo). Perhaps I could just roll my own in a similar style?
My questions:
- What approaches have I not considered?
- What approach would you take? e.g. software which you've used which worked for you?
- If you were to e.g. use Jabber/XMPP (without further information, I'm sort of leaning to that solution..) which AJAX client would you consider?