Comment 20 for bug 310331

Possible resolution on this for the dialup connection.

Solution posted in the Ubuntu Forums by lkreamer:
To use wvdial for a dial-up connection

"sudo wvdialconfig" This will find and configure the modem.
You must then add your personal info to the /etc/wvdial.conf file.
(user name, phone number and password)

Note with Intrepid (for those not able to update gedit due to the lack of connection)
Gedit had some issues with "sudo" and some comments were in the terminal when performing an administration editing of the wvdial,conf file when closing and expecting the usual auto save actions, SAVE before closing after edit. Also watch syntax including spaces, leave a space between the equalls for each field (user name, number and password)

Once you gain access go directly to the repositories and get the "ppp" and other base file updates.
This allows a return of the pppconfig provider dial-in, handshaking and changing between dynamic and static and the tagged (pon <provider>) pon, poff and pogg commands plus the -a option
This for the USR 5610b modem.

PS: some of the above information is not available in wvdial docs mainly the wvdialconfig, leastwise not in mine. Also Wvdial has some issues with the pap, chat and pap-secrets files, shakey connection.