Interactive Chat

Interactive Web applications, of the specific type commonly known as "chat", are not allowed on pair Networks's servers. For the purposes of this policy, a "chat" system is defined as a Web site or portion thereof that encourages visitors to post messages that are immediately viewable by other users, in order to engage in "real-time" conversation with other visitors at the same site.

More Information

The Web is supremely unsuited to this type of application, and the impact on servers can be immense. If there are N visitors participating, then the amount of work being done by the server is on the order of N squared. It is impossible for such an application to scale properly. Couple this with the fact that most such systems use CGI or another dynamic content method to deliver the messages, and the server slows down dramatically, regardless of how powerful it might be.

"Chat" should only be accomplished through systems specifically designed for it. pair Networks does not support any systems of that nature.