Ok, I have spent about 30 minutes now trying to understand the telefonica website-and, believe me, the language is not the problem. I just need to get a land line with ADSL wifi. Can you just call them up and get this? (I know it takes time for the installation, etc.) Or do you have to have a plan all picked out and decided on before calling? 'cause I'm going in circles!

Also, thought I read here a while ago about having to either buy or rent a land line phone from telefonica-that you couldn't just use your own phone. I have done a million searches, but cannot find that thread-as you can imagine-there are TONS of phone discussions here that have nothing to do with my question. Is it true that you have to get your phone from them?

Ah, the memories this brings back...

Things may have changed, and I'm sure Telefónica now bundles up their services together (it should say so on their website), and you may be able to get a better deal from them if you apply for both a land line and wifi ADSL.

Last year I applied for a landline. I just called the number on the website, told them I wanted a phone line in my apartment, and they asked me what kind of phone I wanted (desktop model, wall-hanging model, or wireless). They asked me for a contact phone number (I gave them my cellphone number). About four weeks later I got a call saying someone was coming to my apartment to install the line the next day. He came, took a look around, then told me that he needed access to some electronic circuit in the building which I had no idea about. Fortunately I called my landlady and she told me my neighbour knew where that circuit was and had the keys to the cabinet where it was located, so the guy came back the next day and installed my line. Relatively painless although it took a long time.

I believe for basic landline service there´s only one package from Telefónica. At least that´s what I remember from last year. (Something like E 150 for installation costs, which included the phone unit, and E 16 per month basic charge). There´s lots of ADSL services from different companies which offer free calls to all landlines in Spain, but as far as I understand these are add-ons to ADSL service, not Telefónica´s landline service.

Hope this helps.

hey Wendy.

do a SEARCH here on "landline", the "linea fijo vs. cyber cafe" thread is a good read.

then do another SEARCH here on "adsl", there are a few good and very informative threads on that topic.

to make a long story short, you have 2 options.

1) have telefonica do it all. this is the "money is no object" option as they have the most expensive adsl offers on the ,market (no, not the best, just the most expensive).

2) have telefonica put in your landline (aka throw a switch and charge you 150 euros ) and then get your adsl service from another provider like the ones on the ADSL - best offers thread.

either way, you will have to have the landline in before you can order adsl as the adsl is put in over the analogical landline.

don't just do it all with telefonica thinking that it will be easier. the company is such a monster that the adsl is provided by a separate company within the telefonica group than the dept. that does the landline. so, you will be dealing with 2 diff. entities whether you do it all with telefonica or do the landline with them and the adsl with someone else.it will be frustrating

saludos,
jer...

sorry, i was writing my answer as sunny was so i did not see his until after i posted mine.

the bundled services he is referring to are seen HERE.

there is the "duo" (adsl + calls) and the "trio" (adsl + calls + imagenio tv).

check it out but you will need the landline first to make anything work

Wendy, the sooner you get a landline in, the better off you will be as far as internet is concerned.

resign yourself to the fact that it will be a looooong wait and just call them!!!

saludos,
jer...

Ok, more info-thanks Sunny and Jer-very helpful. The linea fijo thread did contain my answer (as well as a wealth of other info) which is that no, you do not have to buy or rent Telefonica's phones.

I checked out both Telefonica's and Ya's current ADSL wifi offers, and, unless I am mistaken, the prices look pretty much the same at the moment. Telefonica charges 40 euros/month for calls and ADSL, activation is free and they will charge you 67 euros to install it or you can do it yourself for free. Ya is charging 33 euros for calls and ADSL, activation is 35 euros and you have to install it yourself, so that is free. I figure I can either figure out installation myself or throw myself on the mercy of someone who won't charge me 67 euros! Don't know if the equipment is bad for one or the other.

If I go with telefonica, I am assuming I could order both the landline and the ADSL connection at the same time-so not going through two waiting periods? Or is that wrong? And, if the pricing isn't really different, is there a reason to avoid telefonica?

Wendy, read what i wrote above...

quote:

... don't just do it all with telefonica thinking that it will be easier. the company is such a monster that the adsl is provided by a separate company within the telefonica group than the dept. that does the landline. so, you will be dealing with 2 diff. entities...

you can try to order the landline and adsl at the same time but since you have to have the landline before the adsl line can be put in over it, it will probably not work out since the diff. depts. at telefonica do NOT communicate with each other NOR do they coordinate the instalations so that the landline is in before the adsl. unless things have changed drastically recently, you will need to provide a phone number to the adsl provider that you choose when you order it and you will not have a phone number until you get the landline installed.

saludos,
jer...

oh yes, and to confuse you a bit more , jazztel also has what could be an interesting offer...

http://www.jazztel.com/hogar/servicios.php?id_categoria=11

personally, i think they are full of crap with the "up to 20 megas" adsl but am holding out and waiting for Roland to get his and give his feedback before i switch over.

saludos,
jer...

I think Jazztel also can do a "fijo" line now... Even after they called me a "gilipollas", I'd probably still go with their service, if I were hooking up right now.

Sunny--four weeks!!. We moved here around the same time that you did and it took just two or three days for me to get our "fijo" hooked up and just a few days more for ADSL from Telefonica. I ordered the service from the Telefonica store across from Plaza Mayor.

yeah mariposita, the landline is in that offer but costs extra, have a look.

it is the "*Cuota de alquiler de la línea de teléfono de JAZZTEL: 12,95 € / mes + IVA" part which is almost same cost as telefonica charges (16 euros/month) for the landline maintenance.

saludos,
jer...

Ok, just found that ya is offering a 4 MB deal for the same price and no connection fee.....but I know your concern about anything over 2 MB, Jer....

Wendy -- for what it's worth...

I had two lines installed in my office, one for phone and the other for fax. On the phone line we have adsl with Telefonica installed. Admittedly I have no complaint about their albeit expensive service.

One day we got a call from ya.com offering a great 4 mega deal and free calls within Madrid to landlines. We decided to test drive it and had it installed on our fax line. Over 3 weeks ago, after several months of excruciatingly long down times on internet service (what they chalked up to "incidencia masiva") we asked to have the ya.com adsl disconnected. They still have not disconnected it and we are still paying for the spotty service. Some days it works like a charm...but then when you most need the internet connection, ... nada...zippo...zilch. Very frustrating...

just a heads up! I am sure that everyone has had a horror story or two with one ADSL provider or another.

hey....i am with chica. i had such nightmares with ya...or trying to get ya. after 3 months of waiting they never resolved why my adsl wouldn't work. they blamed telefonica, telefonica blamed them, everyone ignored me. in order to cancel the service i never had i had to fax a letter to a number that was busy for eons. as i was doing the fax from a locutoria, it was a nightmare. and to top it all off, a year later i get a letter from a lawyer for ya saying they are suing me for the one year of service that i never had, nor even was billed for.

anyway, i know jules and roland had nightmares with...what company...don't remember now.

in my case the phone was already installed in my place and it was a matter of just calling telefonica. the adsl was turned on in three days. (my landlord had adsl here). i've never had a single problem with it. and as i live on adsl that is invaluable for me.

the cost is high compared to the the us. 39.99 plus the line with is around 18 per month, plus taxes means each month my telefonica bill is around 70 euros. but it works.

good luck,
candy

Thanks Chica and Candela! I had heard that you both had difficulties with ya and was wondering about it. Thanks for the heads up! Any idea how difficult this ADSL installation is? I don't particularly want to pay another 76 euros if it's easy to do myself!

Just to add more confusion and options to the pot... I use Auna for my land line and cable tv. I know they also provide internet but I couldn't tell you about that because I haven't requested that option. I pay around 30 Euros a month for basic phone services (long distance extra) and cable tv with more than 30 channels, including CNN, BBC, AXN, etc. plus pay per view options in about a dozen more channels. I think for under 60€ you can get the above plus internet, 2MB. You might want to check out their website, http://www.auna.es/, again, I don't know what their internet services are like, get the skinny from someone who's been there before you make a decision. Buena suerte!
Lena

Hey thanks, girlfriend. I had thought you could not get cable in the center of Madrid. Is Auna different?