# Request (unavailable):
curl -iX POST -H" Application/json" https://login.skype.com/json/validator?new_username=borist

# Response:
{
  "status": 406,
  "status_text": "valid",
  "data": {
    "markup": "Skype Name not available",
    "alternatives": true,
    "fieldDetails": "<label>Suggestions</label><ul><li><label><input class="skypeNameSuggestion" type="radio" name="selectSkypeName" value="borist92"/>borist92</label> </li><li><label><input class="skypeNameSuggestion" type="radio" name="selectSkypeName" value="borist176"/>borist176</label> </li><li><label><input class="skypeNameSuggestion" type="radio" name="selectSkypeName" value="borist417"/>borist417</label> </li></ul>"
  }
}

# Request (available)
curl -iX POST -H" Application/json" https://login.skype.com/json/validator?new_username=boris3294a

# Response
{
  "status":200,
  "status_text":"valid",
  "data":{"markup":"",
  "alternatives":false,
  "fieldDetails":""}
}

import requests

def checkName(name):
    values = { "new_username" : name }
    r = requests.post("https://login.skype.com/json/validator", values)
    return "not available" in r.json()[u'data'][u'markup']