FYI, the new Mokkula from DNA works with GNU/Linux. It’s in fact Huawei E1692, not Huawei E180! You have to use the USB_ModeSwitch utility and add the following to the /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf:
# Huawei E1692 DefaultVendor= 0x12d1 DefaultProduct= 0x1446 MessageContent="55534243000000000000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000"
then run:
$ sudo usb_modeswitch
and you should have a working mobile broadband modem instead of a $180 80MB USB storage stick.
The next Ubuntu release, Karmic Koala, will have usb_modeswitch installed by default which will improve the user experience for many many people. Udev will handle the switch automatically so that the expensive modems just work 