Comment 6 for bug 364678

Yes, it appears to be hardware-specific. I have two computers - one Network (Swedish made) and one Packard Bell, both desktop machines. The Packard Bell machine recognises the modem even if plugged-in before boot, the Network one doesn't.
I used to run Mandriva (2009.1) on both machines. The Mandriva distro had no problems discovering the modem every boot. When I switched to Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty) in both computers, the problems started on the Network machine.
However, I have been running the Live Ubuntu 9.04 CD a couple of times on the Network machine, and the CD code recognises the modem every time. The wizard pops up and tells me I have a Huawei USB modem connected, and would I please enter my country and provider (quite impressive, actually!). The modem is a Huawei E220.
I have also noted that WVDial "sees" the modem even if connected at bootup, but other circumstances prevent me from using the dialer. The corresponding Gnome thingy (I have forgotten its name) does not.
What I need to do is to disconnect the modem physically and then re-connect it during or after boot, every time. Rather annoying, actually.