For various reasons using mobile phone apps isn't an option in this case, and I am looking for the good old fashion, basic **international** calling cards (the kind that you dial a number from your mobile phone, then enter the number you are trying to call in another country. I used to buy this kind of card in Beijing and Hong Kong, last time I did that it was 5-10 cents per minute for a minute to call Canada.)

I've tried various small and large shops to no avail. Has anyone bought these somewhere? Preferably somewhere in the north?

Thanks! All suggestions welcome. :)

I used to use them, can't find them anymore, have been told they're no longer available. Let us know if you find one somewhere.

I think you men "VOIP" card. "Voice over Internet Protocol" or something. You used to be able to buy them in the street kiosks, but I also heard they aren't sold anymore.

See: www.gokunming.com/[...]

Im not sure @ocean, they were just cards with numbers on the back to call certain countries. You dialed the number on your mobile phone, then entered an automated system. After that, you just dialed the landline you wanted to reach. If they're not sold anymore Im very saddened! I need to call grandma! haha and she does NOT use internet. :(

Thanks for all the input so far. If anyone has any other news, please let me know!

Me too.

@happygirl
Maybe that's different, yes. Good hunting.

I think you are right, it is the old (VO)IP cards. You would dial in to a local server, and then the call would go over the internet to a local server at the other end, and then connect to mobile/landline. They worked as phone companies were buying surplus bandwidth, in bulk, cheap. I used to use them a lot.
However, most people who used that kind of service are now using a lot of free computer to computer call software (Viber, Facetime, etc). Some of these new services also allow you to connect to a landline/mobile phone at the receiving end for a low call rate.

I think that today, not only is the demand for landline to VOIP services smaller, with social networking, the available spare bandwidth is also much smaller. There probably isn't the demand or the business case for the old VOIP services. A bit like it is getting harder to find the, once ubiquitous, DVD stores around the world.

Try looking at Viber, and similar services that allow mobile to mobile/landline/computer international calls at low/no fees.

tigertiger, I will try that! however, Im unable to download apps like google hangouts (which i used to use for landline calling) , my phone is just too old now. Im trying not to get a new one until Christmas. But I will give it a go. Thank you!

the old cards would allow calls that cannot be traced to a named person. not sure that fits in with new regulations