@Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
       ....
        tabHost = (TabHost) findViewById(android.R.id.tabhost);
        tabHost.setup();
    }

public void tabHandler(View target){
        button_map.setSelected(false);
        button_chat.setSelected(false);
        if(target.getId() == R.id.button_map){
            tabHost.setCurrentTab(0);
            button_map.setSelected(true);
        } else if(target.getId() == R.id.button_chat){
            tabHost.setCurrentTab(1);
            button_chat.setSelected(true);
        }
        }