Do you have fsodeviced and fsousaged installed? Are they running?
This software was developed for SHR distro and distro-wise it's easier to ensure that everything needed is in place.
I'm using this code on my phone every day, and some code mainternance is long overdue
phonecli-dialer -call »phone number« phonecli-messages -send »phone number« < »some text file« phonecli-contacts -getnumber »some name«
BTW. You can try to use ofono-phonesim to simulate the modem.
Feel free to ask in case of problems. You can easily catch me on IRC