Live Chat Browser Compatibility Clog with IE and Current Workarounds
Because the Offerchat live chat support tool is completely web-based, the most direct way to access and use it is through a web browser. An email from one of our dear Offerchat users read thus:
“For some reason, I was unsuccessful at making the widget work with IE. Worked fine with Chrome, but what about customers using IE?”
We’ve been receiving many feedback regarding browser compatibility similar to this, and yes, we do feel you. Our developers have been working on finding ways to make the live chat widget work on Internet Explorer. Much of it is finding solutions for a horde of incompatibility issues with this particular browser, especially older versions.
What’s happening:
- Website owners cannot see the widget on their site after adding Offerchat using Internet Explorer.
- Website owners cannot access or see the web based chat panel or dashboard after logging in using Internet Explorer.
- Site visitors, customers, and other people cannot see the live chat widget on the website with Offerchat live chat when browsing said website using Internet Explorer.
Why does the widget work fine on Chrome and Firefox but incompatible with IE?
The Offerchat widget was built with newer technologies in mind. Since Chrome and Firefox are newer browsers and automatically updates (in most cases) to get in line with the latest standards, the live chat widget rarely encounters compatibility issues and, thus, seamlessly works with these browsers.
Actually, the widget works on newer versions of the Internet Explorer browser — that is, IE9 and up. That’s because these higher versions of IE are built on the current technology, which Offerchat is also based on. On the other hand, Microsoft has stopped support and updates for old IE browser versions. They have been decidedly left behind.
Possible Steps to Circumvent the Issue:
1. Upgrade to a newer IE version.
Check the version of the IE browser on your computer.
Open your IE browser > Click Help up on the menu bar or press Alt H on your keyboard > Choose About Internet Explorer from the menu to see the IE version.
If you see IE 8 or below, you can choose to upgrade your IE browser to a more updated version.
Important!! Please read:
Before you proceed with upgrading your browser, please check what windows OS you’re using. IE 9 is fully optimized for the Windows 7 operating system. That said, IE 9 (and other succeeding higher versions for that matter) does NOT work with Windows XP.
Yes, a lot of people are frustrated but newer IE browsers where the Offerchat live chat widget can actually work is, unfortunately, not suited for XP. Sorry XP users.
“Well, I have Vista…”
Good for you. IE 9 might work (emphasis on might). A couple of caveats:
1) You have to undergo the excruciating required process of installing SP2 for Vista.
2) There are a number of browser features that only work on Windows 7.
Forget about getting IE 10 for your Vista machine too, Microsoft already quipped “not gonna happen”.
To make the long story short, a computer that’s running Windows 7 at the least is needed if you really want to use Internet Explorer for the live chat application.
Not ready to spend $$ for a new machine or OS upgrade?
You don’t have to! Catch simpler workarounds below:
2. Try integrating Offerchat with an instant messaging program. (But you won’t be able to access the dashboard and do admin functions for your account, hence, limited live chat use.)
3. Get a Chrome browser, or get a Firefox browser. These two work with Windows XP, Vista, 7, and the latest Windows 8. No complications, no caveats. Rated best solution as of the moment.
The Offerchat Dev Team is still in the works to successfully make the live chat work on old IE versions. However, we cannot set a definite ETA (estimated time of availability) yet.
In summary:
The Offerchat live chat widget is most compatible with Chrome, Firefox, IE 9 and IE 10 browsers. PC users with Windows XP and Vista machines bundled with older versions of the Internet Explorer browser would have to use Chrome or Firefox in the meantime, or integrate Offerchat with instant messaging programs that can support a Jabber network such as Pidgin.
Cheby writes about live chat insights, customer service, e-commerce & conversions, online marketing and everything in between. She connects you to Offerchat through the written word. Offerchat is a web based live chat app for websites perfect for on-page interaction with visiting online shoppers on your site. Access the client chat panel, stay online and respond to customer chats in real time - anytime, anywhere!
