G4 867 DP

>> I reconnected and through the speaker I could hear the dial tone. Before it
>> started dialling the number I suddenly heard the modem noise (when the modem
>> at the other end answers) then my connection bar at the top right suddenly
>> displayed connected before it had even finished.
> 
> I'm guessing you're maybe using an iBook or some other new-ish Mac
> with Mac OS X and the internal modem. They do that occasionally.