link to website
“Campfire lets you set up secure, password-protected web-based chat rooms in just seconds. Invite a client, a colleague, or a vendor to a chat. Set up a room on your intranet for internal communications. Conduct meetings with people around the world. The uses are plentiful. Up to 40 people can chat at once. You can even browse previous chats by person, room, or date.

No special software required — a web browser is all you need
Chats are password-protected and private
Search or browse through transcripts of past chats
Instantly share files and preview images”

via Lifehacker, Campfire has been developed by 37Signals, whose products include Basecamp - a web based project management solution with free options.
Could be good for the LearnScope startup group. Need to try through the firewall ;)