Ajax Live Messaging

[avario]

I am trying to set up a sort of instant messaging system on a site I am creating. Users submit their messages which are then stored in a database. Other users looking at the page should then be able to see this message as soon as possible.

 

The only way I can make this work is using Ajax to send a request to search for any new messages every 2 seconds or so. Is there a better way of doing this? I just don't think this is very good as for the user's Internet usage and it is barely instant.

 

Thanks if anyone has any ideas...