{"id":1844,"date":"2017-12-03T03:25:32","date_gmt":"2017-12-03T03:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rumbletalk.com\/blog\/?p=1844"},"modified":"2025-10-06T05:53:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T05:53:13","slug":"chat-compare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rumbletalk.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/12\/03\/chat-compare\/","title":{"rendered":"Chat Compare, The difference between “Group Chat” “Live Chat” and a “Chat Room”"},"content":{"rendered":"

After receiving multiple support emails all focusing on the same question\u2014clarifying the differences between chat software, group chat<\/a>, live chat, and chat rooms<\/a>\u2014we decided to elaborate further.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, \u201cchat\u201d can mean \u201cto talk with someone in a casual way\u201d or \u201cto talk over the Internet by sending messages back and forth in a chat room.\u201d This definition emphasizes not only the informal nature of conversation but also the technology that enables real-time communication. Each type of chat platform\u2014whether software-based, group-oriented, live, or room-based\u2014has its own unique set of features and benefits. Understanding these differences helps users select the most effective tool for their communication needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s try to understand the different options in the chat arena.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is a matter of terminology but much more. For example, if you need a public chatroom that allows you to log in using your social media credentials, then a private room will not be suitable for your needs.<\/p>\n

\"RumbleTalk<\/a><\/p>\n

Let’s talk about chat comparison, The difference between the next 3 options
\nA – Group Chat
\nB – Live Chat
\nC – Chat Room<\/p>\n

Note, that each of those can be shown in two forms, chat software, or chat service.
\nThe main difference is that a chat software will be installed on your server using your CPU, memory and other resources from your servers. A chat service is a chat that will show on your website but will consume the vendor of the chat resources (e.g., will not affect your server performance).<\/p>\n

So, let’s start<\/p>\n

The Evolution of Chat in Computer Systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Our need to communicate with other human beings had initiated a chat system to be built along with the first computer operating system, UNIX in the 1970\u2019s. Talk program was built into UNIX system to allow people to communicate with each other using their user name as ID. The talk program only allows one-on-one chat.<\/p>\n

The very first multi-user and chat room is a program called Talkomatic. The program was invented for the first time in 1973 by Doug Brown and David Wolley at the University of Illinois as supporting tools for the University\u2019s learning system.<\/p>\n

Chatting has been so common in our daily Internet life. We are now using many different chat programs and connecting with people around the world, as a chat program chat has been advancing very much since the very first talk program in UNIX system.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Chat, Instant Messaging and SMS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We have been so useful with the chatting program. As a communication system has evolved so has the chat program evolved. Chat by definition, according to PC Magazine is real-time communication via keyboard between two or more users on a local network (LAN) or over the Internet.<\/p>\n

Webopedia, the online tech dictionary also defines chat as the same definition as PC Magazine: a real-time communication between two users via computer. Once a chat has been initiated, either user can enter text by typing on the keyboard and the entered text will appear on the other user’s monitor.<\/p>\n

Most chat system nowadays allows users to log in to the system to enter a chat room and chat with other people who have already been in the room. This allows a many-to-many chat room, as everyone in the chat room can send their message to other people.<\/p>\n

There is a different term regarding chat, but actually, it means the same. The term Instant Messaging for most often is separated from chat, but instant messaging is actually a chat in itself. \u00a0The difference between chat and instant messaging is that instant messaging is built to focus on one-on-one chat.<\/p>\n

In a mobile application, we have now so many instant messaging applications. In cellular technology, the very first instant messaging app is SMS. This technology then evolves into more advanced technology in mobile instant messaging. As the smartphone revolutionized the computing industry in the 2010\u2019s, SMS has been replaced by a variety of instant messaging app.<\/p>\n

\"Group<\/p>\n

As smartphone technology now converges with Internet and web technology, the chat must be able to deal with the convergence. The challenge for today\u2019s chat technology is to be able to run and synchronize on both PC and mobile devices. Fortunately, today\u2019s technology enables us to build a web chat software that can be used in either mobile device such as smartphones and tablets, as well as PCs (HTML5 + Javascript).<\/p>\n

2. The 3 types of chats<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the\u00a0chat arena, we know there are three types of chat:<\/p>\n