modem experiences anyone?

hello all.

for a project i want to be able to let my arduino place calls for speach, no serial info. My last encounter with modems was already 5 years ago and i'm unble to tell if this is possible at all.
i can interface the arduino with no problem using a max232, but sending the right commands puzzles me.

can i use ath1 to pick up the hook?, but how do i get sound from the line or on the line using a mobile phone?
and is it possible to place a call without trying to connect to another modem?