function createRequestObject() { 

   var req; 

   if(window.XMLHttpRequest){ 
      // Firefox, Safari, Opera... 
      req = new XMLHttpRequest(); 
   } else if(window.ActiveXObject) { 
      // Internet Explorer 5+ 
      req = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); 
   } else { 
      // There is an error creating the object, 
      // just as an old browser is being used. 
      alert('Problem creating the XMLHttpRequest object'); 
   } 

   return req; 

} 

// Make the XMLHttpRequest object 
var http = createRequestObject(); 

function sendRequest(act) { 

   // Open PHP script for requests 
   http.open('get', '../ext/skype_status/skype_button.php'); 
   http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse; 
   http.send(null); 

} 

function handleResponse() { 

   if(http.readyState == 4 && http.status == 200){ 

      // Text returned FROM the PHP script 
      var response = http.responseText; 

      if(response) { 
         // UPDATE ajaxTest content 
         document.getElementById("skype_button").innerHTML = response; 
      } 

   } 

}