by Heather Faucher Free online chat rooms have been popular since before the Internet as we know it began. The modern version of chat rooms began as BBSes, short for Bulletin Board Systems. These were computer systems that allowed users to connect to the BBS and interact with other users, either through electronic mail or public message boards. Some BBSes even offered on-line games where users could compete with each other. BBSes with multi phone lines also ran free online chat rooms where users could interact in "real time." The name "Bulletin Board System" is a nod to an earlier iteration, the traditional cork-and-pin bulletin boards popularly used in grocery stores, libraries, and other public buildings where people could post advertisements or community news.

Of course, today's free online chat rooms have come a long way, connecting people on a global basis rather than just locally. Still, there's no doubt that free online chats owe their beginnings to those earlier community bulletin boards. Most BBSes were run as free hobbies by their system operators, AKA "SysOps", while others charged a fee to subscribers. Not only were they a precursor to today's free online chat rooms, they can also be considered the same to the contemporary World Wide Web. BBSes closely resembled the cork-and-board community bulletin boards as far as scope, since users had to connect via telephone lines. Connecting to BBSes outside of the local telephone calling area meant having to pay long distance charges, so most BBS users interacted with others in the same local area. Today, online chatters are free to chat with people from all across the nation--and the world.

The modern-day versions of free online chat rooms are easy to use, most requiring only Internet access and a web browser to access. Because of that instant accessibility and convenience, hundreds of free online chats are out there, but that doesn't mean all are created equal. Those looking for a free online chat where they can meet their potential Mr. or Miss Right should check out Join-Vert.com, an up-and-coming website where singles can meet other singles--for free! Online chatters can choose to upgrade to paid accounts if they so desire, but are under no obligation to do so. Indeed, not only can relationship-free online chatters create accounts for chatting purposes, they can also surf the profiles of other singles in that quest for the perfect partner. Of course, you might have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince--or princess--but that's the beauty of free online chat rooms like the one provided by Join-Vert.com. It's free, and more and more singles are signing up every day. Chances are you'll find all kinds of hot prospects. And by using a free online chat room to do your initial screening, the cost in time and money to you for those that don't pan out is absolutely minimal. One thing's for sure--free online chat rooms like Join-Vert.com are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

Check it out today--who knows, maybe you'll skip the frog-kissing stage and leap right to Prince(ss) Charming! BIO Heather Faucher is a certified paralegal with over 10 years of experience in the legal field, most recently working for a large, multi-practice law firm located in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. She possesses a Master's Degree in Legal Analysis from Webster University and does freelance writing for various magazines and websites, primarily relating to the publishing, legal, and human resources fields. Her debut novel will be coming out under a pseudonym from Penguin Group (USA) in August, 2010. Passionate about both writing and the law, she enjoys knitting and playing softball for her firm's co-ed team.