learnandteachonline.com

I got all worked up the last couple of days after Dave posted a link to a 3 bubbles demo. It's an Ajax chatroom you embed in your blog.

Anyone who's been around on the internet longer than 5 or 6 years knows it's nothing new, yet it's crept into the rarified realm of the "fundable."

It annoyed me so much I spent an hour or so seeking out an open source Ajax PHP chat and putting it on my OPML blog.

Dave said this about it this morning, adding an angle on the announcement I hadn't considered.

The chat was easy to set up. I've configured PHP/MySQL chat apps before. No wait, I even put Perl/CGI chats on sites as far back as 1997. It's like the new wave of internet business types don't know that features or applications exist unless they are commonly used on blogs.

I actually do have an idea for monetizing chat that has a really original model. I used to manage the AT&T Worldnet chat rooms (through a bubble consulting firm), and suggested it to them. The community team liked the idea, but it's so hard to get big companies to move on anything, especially if it never has been done.

The term of my non-compete must be long passed by now. I'd tell a funding source about it except I'd probably have to write a business plan to get a hearing and puff the concept all up so it sounds big enough to need a staff and R&D costs and all that crappola. You can't get money for a really good small idea.

(Have I mentioned I'm bubbleshy? Yes. Here and there.)