code: function (channels) {
              var that = this,
                  panels = [];
  
              // Multiple channels may come as comma-delimited
              if (typeof channels === 'string') {
                  channels = channels.split(',');
              }
  
              $.each(channels, function (index, channel_name_key) {
                  // We may have a channel key so split it off
                  var spli = channel_name_key.trim().split(' '),
                      channel_name = spli[0],
                      channel_key = spli[1] || '';
  
                  // Trim any whitespace off the name
                  channel_name = channel_name.trim();
  
                  // Add channel_prefix in front of the first channel if missing
                  if (that.get('channel_prefix').indexOf(channel_name[0]) === -1) {
                      // Could be many prefixes but '#' is highly likely the required one
                      channel_name = '#' + channel_name;
                  }
  
                  // Check if we have the panel already. If not, create it
                  channel = that.panels.getByName(channel_name);
                  if (!channel) {
                      channel = new _kiwi.model.Channel({name: channel_name, network: that, key: channel_key||undefined});
                      that.panels.add(channel);
                  }
  
                  panels.push(channel);
  
                  that.gateway.join(channel_name, channel_key);
              });
  
  
              return panels;
          }
docs: Create panels and join the channel
  This will not wait for the join event to create a panel. This
  increases responsiveness in case of network lag