Some of this may depend on the type of smartlink modem your are using. I am familiar with the Smartlink HAMR modem. PCTel uses the smartlink HAMR driver for the modem in my desknote and for some reason the 2.7.10 version from smartlink works with the 2.2/2.4 kernels. The newer versions from smartlink that I tried did not. I am relying on my desknote now so I am not tinkering with it.
Smartlink just announced that they are supporting linux on their website and they have an ftp site that shows frequent releases of drivers. If you are using another version of a smartlink modem like a pci you might try some of the newer drivers at the smartlink website. I know of one other person trying to get a smartlink modem working in 2.6 and he was going to email the smartlink developers.
You might try the same thing, a couple of requests might focus their attention on the direction their linux support should go. Here is the thread that contains links to the smartlink ftp site.
Amos was the LQ user trying to get the smartlink modem working with kernel 2.6.x
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