Hello,
I have an internal modem. It is SM-56 Motorola chipset modem. I have tried using lspci and setserial for installing it in Linux. but that did not help. I am a bit too confused in that matter. If anyone knows how do I go about it, I would really appreciate for the help. Thank you.

Check http://www.linmodems.org to find out if your modem is a Windows (software) modem. If it is, there may be some drivers available to get it to work.

If not, you'll have to buy a Linux compatable hardware modem.

I have the same modem. Motorola has informed me via email that they are working on a linux driver for the SM56 Speakerphone modem. If yours is not the "speakerphone" model, they have a linux driver at their web page for you.

Software modems work too
 

Yes, I too got the same reply from Motorola, stating that they are currently working on the driver for Linux. But I have read that software modems work with Linux too, if they are configured so. I do not know the exact procedure, but it is something like assigning a memory address ( which is of the internal modem ) to an external port like that of an external modem. This can be done by using "setserial". If anyone knows this, it would be of great help. Thank you.

want a good fast modem?
 

go get a modem blaster isa modem...i used to have the same trouble until i got one of those babies...install it in a isa slot, turn off "plugnplay aware os" in your bios and it will be detected... and...

wvdial works great with bellsouth.net...19$ a month and worth every penny! i never get knocked offline! give it a whirl unless you like to compile your own drivers :-(!

good luck!