why cant linux run software modems ("winmodems")?

[capybara]

since winmodems are $10-15 and hardware modems
are twice that price, has somebody wrote the program to use software modems for a *nix machine?

[stryder144]

[quote author=capybara link=board=3;threadid=4382;start=0#43572 date=1027912251]
since winmodems are $10-15 and hardware modems
are twice that price, has somebody wrote the program to use software modems for a *nix machine?
[/quote]

Yes and no. It depends on the chipset maker. Some have released drivers and specs, quite a few haven't. Just do a google search for linmodems. That should help. BTW...I bought my external hardware modem for $20 at an auction.