The Huawei-E172 USB 3G+ key now works out-of-the box with NetworkManager as shipped with Fedora 9. All configuration stuff is handled by the edit connection menu, the PIN code is stored in the gnome keyring, and specific patch for the french SFR broadband network provider is no longer required.

bonus note:

This information is taken from the Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver. You can change the preferred connection mode by sending those AT commands to the card :

'GPRSONLY' : 'AT^SYSCFG=13,1,3FFFFFFF,2,4'
'3GONLY'   : 'AT^SYSCFG=14,2,3FFFFFFF,2,4'
'GPRSPREF' : 'AT^SYSCFG=2,1,3FFFFFFF,2,4'
'3GPREF'   : 'AT^SYSCFG=2,2,3FFFFFFF,2,4'