function getPrices(priceurl) {

    var xmlHttp;

    try {
      // Firefox, Opera 8.0+, Safari
      xmlHttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
    } catch (e) {
      // Internet Explorer
      try {
        xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP");
      } catch (e) {
        try {
            xmlHttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
        } catch (e) {
            alert("Your browser is not compatible!");
            return false;
        }
      }
    }
    
    document.getElementById('pricesprogress').style.visibility = "visible"; 
    
    xmlHttp.onreadystatechange=function() {
        
        if (xmlHttp.readyState==4) {
            
            document.getElementById('pricesprogress').style.visibility = "hidden";
            
            if (xmlHttp.status==200) {
                document.getElementById('pricespane').innerHTML=xmlHttp.responseText; 
            } else {
                document.getElementById('pricespane').innerHTML="Problem retrieving price data.";
            }
        }
    }
    
    xmlHttp.open("GET",priceurl,true);
    xmlHttp.send(null);
    
}