usb sl-modem driving me nuts

[O. Sinclair]

I am trying to install a usb modem that uses the Smartlink sl-modem 
drivers (they actually provide them though compiling them go bust).

So I have followed advice from various threads and links all over 
ubuntuforums.org with no luck whatsoever, Kppp does not find the modem, 
modprobe slamr provide no output and modprobe slusb hangs.

lsusb gives this output;
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0483:7554 SGS Thomson Microelectronics 56k SoftModem

I tried the advice of this link;
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=137264&highlight=smartlink+usb+modem
with different package for my kernel but they don't compile. And yes, I 
have all the necessary packages for compiling.

have also tried this link;
http://tinyurl.com/vpjcd
without any luck....

anyone who tried this seemingly simple task? The system is Kubuntu 
Dapper 6.06.1

Sinclair