Universal travel modem

When traveling with your laptop, finding a phone line for your modem can be a pain. Many hotel PBX systems are digital, meaning you can't simply plug your modem into the wall jack.

However, even digital phones use analog handsets, and the handset jack is universal across all phones. Devices are available which plug between the handset jack and your modem. Konexx brand, among others.

Why not integrate this capability into laptop modems? The parts cost would be minimal, especially with modern DSP-based modems that are half soundcard anyway.

While we're at it, laptop ethernet interfaces should auto-sense when crossover wiring is required. Nobody wants to carry two ethernet cables just to be prepared.