ASThanks, for resetting my focus. I read through the webpage. Most interesting. In section 3. I recognise the format of the commands and I used to decode those in the old days. I think it is obvious they are not letting you into the details.
1.. KPPP is a complete dialer internet connector when you use the PPP protcol, as I understand this is more than what is needed for 'talking to' the modem. Having said that if you know the program well then a subset of the program may well be able to just talk to the modem in "command mode".
As I see it KPPP allows you to set up a complete profile for dialing your ISP and log on ready for your web browser to take over. I think here to be able to follow some of section 3 instructions it would pay to try
gtkterm first and perhaps if necessary later minicom, both of which should be in Synaptic. (I used gtkterm because of its simplicity, hard to get lost in settings

, for remote konsole output logging of kernel messages, on machines with serial ports)
2.. Section 3. indicates you can use a comms terminal and do not tell you the settings, creates a bit of a challenge. Further when started I think gtkterm will be configured for /dev/ttySx this may not be a big problem perhaps just change to /dev/modem .
3.. If this connects then the section 3. commands can be used.
derekfSo enter my username & password in the settings, but it asked for a telephone number so i put in telstra.bigpond. tried to connect but it failed.
I assume this is in one of windows in KPPP, at this stage I don't think you can enter your APN in the phone number window as the letters would go into the dialing of numerals subroutine in KPPP.
The use of your APN with comms connection would be here
AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.bigpond"
I got a quick course in our 3G/4G stuff here in Aussi land from:
http://www.ozcableguy.com/3G.asp