Comment 383 for bug 446146

Confirm: stock kernel 2.6.31-16.53 does not fix the issue for (my) Huawei E270.

A custom kernel that includes the patch

diff --git a/drivers/usb/storage/initializers.c b/drivers/usb/storage/initializers.c
index 105d900..ec17c96 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/storage/initializers.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/storage/initializers.c
@@ -102,5 +102,5 @@ int usb_stor_huawei_e220_init(struct us_data *us)
                                      USB_TYPE_STANDARD | USB_RECIP_DEVICE,
                                      0x01, 0x0, NULL, 0x0, 1000);
        US_DEBUGP("Huawei mode set result is %d\n", result);
- return 0;
+ return (result ? 0 : -ENODEV);
 }

which differentiated the 'apw10' test kernel from 'apw5 works correctly.

Needless to say I'm holding on to that patch like grim death ;-)