1. A computer-implemented method of managing a chat experience of a user desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses, the method utilizing a chat management server running computer processes comprising: receiving a search signal over a first network from a device, under control of the user, to indicate that the user device is running a process configured to support a managed chat session and including data characterizing criteria for a business with which the user seeks to chat; responsive to the search signal, identifying a set of businesses meeting the criteria, determining availability status data for each business in the set of businesses, and transmitting, to the device, availability status data for the set of businesses for display on the user's device; receiving over the first network a request message originated by the user on the device to enter a chat channel established for a selected one of the set of businesses; and responsive to the request message, subscribing the user device to the chat channel for the selected one of the set of businesses, and transmitting to the device, over the first network, a launch-chat command; and running an installed application of the selected business, in accordance with business rules specified by the selected business, after the user has been subscribed to the chat channel.