February 26, 2008

Chat With Your Site's Visitors Using Google Talk

Google Talk's gadget was a nice addition, but you couldn't use it to chat with unknown people or with the visitors of the site, like in Meebo Me. Now you can do that using the new chatback badges. You only need to add some code to your site and anyone could click on the generated badge to chat with you.


"A Google Talk chatback badge allows others to chat with you even if they haven't signed up for Google Talk or a Google Account. You can put the badge in your blog or website, and people who visit those pages can chat with you. The badge will display your online status (whether you're available to chat or not) and, optionally, your status message."

If someone clicks on the badge, a special version of the Google Talk gadget will open and he will be able to chat with you.


The conversations are private and only one-to-one, so other visitors won't be able to read them. For some strange reason, they're not even added in Gmail's chat section. Unfortunately, being constantly interrupted by other people is not very pleasant, so you can disable the link from your badge by setting your status to "busy" or by signing out of Google Talk.




{ Thank you, Dan. }

79 comments:

  1. Great function, nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have been trying to find out if it is possible to style the talk gadget to match your site. I know it's an iframe but there was some way of doing it for the regular chat box with a linked xml file. No luck so far. Anyone know if it possible?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I still don't understand why you would add that gadget to a site. If I want to chat with my contacts, I have other options.

    Regarding the customizations, Google offers a way to link to a CSS file, but there's a problem: "the domain from which your custom CSS file is served must also be hosting a properly-configured crossdomain.xml file at the root level. This file allows the Google Talk Gadget to load data (your custom CSS file) from your domain."

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is almost cool, but is there not a way of getting the vistor when he initiates a conversation on my blog to forward to my Gtalk, rather than having me to be logged into iGoogle?

    Is there maybe a bot for it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, nice feature.

    Thanks for spreading.

    I will spread it in my language too.


    This need just one improvment: internationalization.
    I cant change the status message, even if my GTalk is in other language.


    Thanks,
    Rui

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Google URL gives a 404 error for me right now
    http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New

    ReplyDelete
  7. Re:
    > I still don't understand why you
    > would add that gadget to a site.
    > If I want to chat with my
    > contacts, I have other options.

    I think it's just a *Really Easy* way to do it - copy paste a little code & you're done.

    It's for chatting with people who stumble across your site - perhaps useful for Sales/Support of online apps (or even *ugh* offline apps via company web pages)
    - imma

    ReplyDelete
  8. This badge is useful because you can chat with the owner of a site, but embedding the gadget into your site is pointless.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad to know it's not just me... I'm getting that error, too.

    Bad Request
    Error 400

    I'm almost tempted to fire up Safari or IE to see if Google's accidentally done something that breaks in Firefox.

    This is really a neat feature. Matches the Grand Central "Call Me" button or AIM's "Mimzi" Facebook app... the ability for people to connect with you without having any particular software, or even knowing your phone number or IM. (Though sounds like the Google one will display your name.)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pretty neat. I can use it with my gmail user id but is there a way to use it with my google apps id and therfore domain name?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, this functionality is great - instant communication available to any visitor, but it still maintains anonymity. I have gone ahead and put this one my page, but haven't figured out if my crossdomain.xml is working in an attempt to style the bubble.

    My basic css file is just trying to change the background of the bubble (class ".b" - thanks firebug), but no luck yet.

    Anybody see my problem?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Joey: I wondered this and then decided it didn't matter, as they never see your identity, other than your nickname (which you can change).

    The biggest downside I can see is that this doesn't send the messages straight to your IM of choice, but rather sends a message to your IM app telling you that someone has left a message and gives you a link to the gadget with the guest already waiting for you. So instead of just replying, they must wait for you to receive their question, click the link, wait for the page to open and reply. It's a bit round-about.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's not round-about as long as you use gadget instead of Google Talk desktop client. I have strong feeling that Google deliberately keeps forgetting about desktop GT updates hoping that adding lots of features to flash version will disencourage us from using desktop one... I don't really like this all-in-browser way...

    ReplyDelete
  14. @Ricky
    It does check http://www.google.com/talk/service/a/YOURDOMAIN/badge/New

    Source:
    http://www.google.com/support/talkgadget/bin/answer.py?answer=86171

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well... I've spent almost half my sleep time just to shrink that enormous 200x60 bubble to fit in my site.
    After hours of trying to access the DOM of that iframe via javascript and jquery, trying to include the file by PHP's include() and even trying an XMLHTTPRequest to that external file, I found the solution to my problem. If you look at the code, at the end of the src attribute of the iframe there is something like this:

    src="...3bos8c60l2b7&w=200&h=60"

    if you change "w=200" for "w=###", the bubble will have a ### pixels width. The same goes for h=60 and the height.

    I didn't know of the crossdomain.xml and CSS, I'll give it a try these days, but if you just want to shrink it, it's pretty easier this way ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  16. @Mustafa Zaza:
    Thanks a lot! It works for apps too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great! I enjoy it and I was searching something like this one... I'm very happy for this gadget.

    I hope in the future I'll customize it to change the image and other things...

    thanks to Google! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome new feature! Although it uses an iframe, I have already added it to my blog. Too bad the width cannot be edited. But they will certainly make that possible.

    ReplyDelete
  19. @stjin: Look at the comments! There are some ways to shrink it, via CSS and XML or by tweaking a little the URL ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice functionality. But when I already logged-in in a client, why it is giving a link and upon clicking that, it is opening a new window. After that, if I minimize the window, it is not giving any notifications when a new message comes. Is it not possible to see all the messages by the site visitors in my client only?

    ReplyDelete
  21. @ anonymous above:
    Google Talk's desktop client doesn't support this feature (chatting with anonymous users), so you get a link to a special version of the Google Talk gadget.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Neil,
    You might want to play with http://www.hab.la it's a free alternative to google's chat back. And is really customizable, although admittedly no one has really pushed it's customizing features to the edge.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That link was: Hab.la - funny blogger -- no auto-highlighting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Google chatback badge is kinda neat, but it definitely is behind the times in terms of functionality and easy-of-use. The series of pop-ups and windows you get when someone initiates a conversation from the web is annoying. Both Hab.la and Digsby offer plug-ins for your site that are much nicer.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well, I think it doesn't work since I tried clicking on it but nothing happened!

    ReplyDelete
  26. how to change online status circle to other picture?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Can you put the standard version in a "Google Site"?

    ReplyDelete
  28. i need more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (please)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've been messing with this for a couple days. I think the fact that my librarians (which is how we'll use this as a reference service) have to click on so many links just to activate the chat will be a project killer.

    @Someone who said this...
    "Google Talk's desktop client doesn't support this feature (chatting with anonymous users), so you get a link to a special version of the Google Talk gadget."

    It's not just the desktop client. It does this in Meebo, too, which is what we use to aggregate about 5 different IM accounts.

    ReplyDelete
  30. was working fine now I get a HTTP:?? 404 error - any thoughts anyone

    please help

    ReplyDelete
  31. i'm offline...but why badge still online?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Is it possible to have a "Chat room"?
    Whitout me beeing logged in, just visitors talking to eachother.
    And yes, group chat, not only one-to-one?

    Thanx!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Just like many people above, I also get 404 error now. It was working perfectly fine until today evening, and I didn't change any darn thing. I tried some "solutions" by disabling old badges and then creating a new one, but that didn't work either. Time to get the old-styled C-box, unless somebody solves this. It was great as long as it lasted. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  34. the chat badge has the same problem in my website, 404 error. I tried to create a new badge, disabled all old badge, tried all the browsers, with the updated flash, clearing cookies but still no luck. Will this be fixed at all?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Same 404 problem here!
    Still no fix though :-(
    Google????

    ReplyDelete
  36. Has anyone seen a response from Google on this?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am getting the same 404 error message. Why is their no way to notify google of problems other the help forums?

    ReplyDelete
  38. good service really easy but for the sorrow
    dosn't work ! " 404 page error "

    is there any one can give us here any suggestion to solve this
    a big problem . any one from usa can call them about that .

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm getting the 404 error as well. I use the chatback badge on my wordpress site for customer service. It work fine for about 3 months, now it's a no-go.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Someone from Google said: "We are aware of this problem. An emergency fix is being pushed to resolve it."

    ReplyDelete
  41. > "We are aware of this problem.
    > An emergency fix is being pushed to resolve it."

    Three questions: when? when? when?

    ReplyDelete
  42. If you have a Gtalk or any Instant Message client account you can use Hab.la live chat. They are a free service, with minimal branding / no ads on the chat widget, and it works great.

    Check out their site, www.hablabusiness.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. moreover, if you have a Google Talk enabled device, then you should always be available. The URL for your badge can be found under the edit drill down menu. Simply make your own icon and then attach an anchor to it. a href="URL GOES HERE" image src="images/icon.jpg" /a

    img had to be spelled out and I had to take the brackets <> out sorry...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Does anyone know of anything like this from google that you can put on a webpage and allow multiple people to chat in? More of a chatroom type application? Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  45. @Anonymous - January 28, 2010 9:25 PM PDT:
    I may be missing something but can't think of a perfect option

    Google Wave can do this, but it's a rather rich interface and is still quite experimental(unstable+not widely available.)
    A FriendFeed group could be used, but isn't from google.
    Lively was an embeddable graphical(3d) chat room by google, but ended up shut down.

    ReplyDelete
  46. excellent!

    done&working!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi,

    I just tried google chat gadget on one of my website and it worked fine. Find below are some of the links that might help.

    http://code.google.com/apis/talk/talk_developers_home.html >> google website chat
    http://www.google.com/talk/service/badge/New >> google website chat
    http://code.google.com/apis/talk/talk_gadget.html#theming

    Thanks,

    Jagadish.
    www.AragornSystems.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. CAN it be possible to give the visted a ption to enter nick name otherwise its becoming problem with whom i am communicating
    ALso the gadget doesnot show if I close it

    ReplyDelete
  49. am using this badge in my Website,so my visitors can cht with me if am online...
    but problem is nw most of the times if am online also ,showing am Offline...!?
    am tired of it plzz help me??????

    ReplyDelete
  50. For using the chatback bagde with Google Talk software I recommend try the new versión of Gtalk http://www.google.com/talk/labsedition/ Lab edition

    It works!!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. I would not like to show the box when user is not able to chat, so is it posible to take status value or something to make it works like that?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Is it possible to use google talk chatback in mobile

    ReplyDelete
  53. I don't understand it... I do have the gTalk client installed, but when I get an incoming chat, it opens in my Gmail account... Then why do I have the client installed?

    When my Gmail is logged out, I get the message "chatback: Someone clicked on your chatback badge:
    Click here to join: http://......."

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hi, I would also like to use google talk chatback in mobile... please do provide support, especially with android phones. thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. How can i integrate my website with gtalk?

    ReplyDelete
  56. How can i integrate my website with gtalk?

    ReplyDelete
  57. When I type a message in the chat window, I get the same message replied to me

    ReplyDelete
  58. "Google Talk chatback badges are no longer being developed and some users may experience issues with utilizing them. We recommend removing any implementation of the badges you may have added."

    https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!category-topic/chat/igoogle-google-or-orkut/_VpluJc6IfU

    ReplyDelete
  59. I have same problem: "When I type a message in the chat window, I get the same message replied to me"

    ReplyDelete
  60. Same problem Come to with me.

    When I type a message in the chat window, I get the same message replied to me

    if any body have the solution please mail me on my id "devender.saini.bias@gmail.com"

    Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
  61. I cant even Get this to work. I add the little conversation bubble, but when i click on it this takes me to a new blank window.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The same here!:( Blank popup window. Seems they stop working on that thing.

      Delete
    2. I also get a blank windows. Shame, this would be ideal

      Delete
  62. me too, got blank popup, suck u google...

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hey i ve use the Same Code as said bt the popup window does not opens the Chat window it redirected to Support Page????? why dat so??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, same issue. This feature used to work before. I've tested it about two years ago.

      Delete
  64. WHY IN THE WORLD THEY DISCONTINUED IT!!! I used it on my websites.

    ReplyDelete
  65. It's unfortunate that this was discontinued, the workaround that I am using is to sign up for a live chat ( http://www.clickdesk.com/ ) and hook it up with Gtalk. Visitors use the live chat interface, I use the Gtalk interface.

    ReplyDelete
  66. This sounds PERFECT for what i want to use it for. Is there any free alternative that i can put on my website to chat to visitors from my gmail chat gadget? Does any one know?

    Thanx

    ReplyDelete
  67. i've put iframe code on my website which is provided by google for online chat but not able to chat with website users......and redirect on Google Support page........

    Plz let me know how to resolve this.....??

    ReplyDelete
  68. hi i've a problem with Google live chat budget....

    ReplyDelete
  69. Probably have to code your own....don't think the talkback badges work anymore.....

    ReplyDelete
  70. why it isnt working with guest chat
    it keeps redirect to http://support.google.com/chat/?hl=en&topic=1725163#topic=24666

    ReplyDelete
  71. The charter statement of this website (located in the upper right of this page) reads: An unofficial blog that watches Google's attempts to move your operating system online.

    Your operating system already IS online! If you disbelieve this, just try to get any functionality out of your browser should you fail to surrender your computer to the regularly scheduled upload of your personal data disguised as so called updates. LOL

    How bad will it have to get before all you people wake up, and see what's happening? George Orwell saw it all, and you people just wont wake up!

    We need competition from the open source community to stop these Plutocrats and Federalists before there is a freaking camera up everybody's arse!

    ReplyDelete
  72. i can't understand what is going on

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.