Skype is owned by Microsoft. In China, it is operated by Shiguangpu information technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (SGP).

While not popular in China, Skype is used by many businesses and individuals. I got my Skype account in 2003 and used it in China often to make phone calls. Using Skype you can make calls to 800 numbers in the US and Canada.

Since geniuses at Microsoft bought Skype they have been busy turning it into an IM.

@jojio
Have you checked wider than just your local shop? Little kiosks have been selling the IP cards for years. I'd be surprised if they've all suddenly stopped?

The little kiosks I used to use have, in fact, stopped selling them, or at least have stopped selling the ones I used to use, about 6 months ago.

I too would like to find those telephone cards. What about Taobao?

Although its quality is good, Skype is pretty much the most expensive VoIP service out there. If you have fiber or 4G, I suggest you one of the many VoIP providers owned by Betamax. Which one, simply depends on the countries you are most interested into calling. www.voipkredi.com/page.php?page=betamax-dellmont

If I remember well, also QQ offers the possibility to call mobile or fixed phones.

Other solution, bring a cheap Chinese smartphone to your mum and use WhatsApp. It would be a nice a way to return her the favour of educating you years ago by educating her on easy and new technology.

you could also buy a VoIP cordless phone to her, such as Siemens or Panasonic, and call her totally for free! You could have also done this from a distance, on e.g. Amazon, but it is a little tricky to set one up at first...