[stakanov]

I do not know if this may help you in this particular problem.
I had a similar problem with the starting string of a Huawei PCMCIA modem card. I overcame it by going to the producers Windows driver cd and going through the activation strings in the ini files. I did copy and paste substituting the original script provided via yast automatic hardware recognition. The modem then worked flawlessly.
i.e. the script substituted was:
AT Q0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0

Wind: AT&FE0V1X1&D2&C1S0=0

"CGDCONT=1", "IP", "internet.wind"

I would expect that vodaphone usb-key modems have a similar solution (the Huawei PCMCIA modem cards are passed through the usb interface).