Yeah, justDIY is probably right....although I don't suppose it could be an FPGA? I don't see any flash IC's around it for programming so it probably isn't, but programmable logic is also popular in digital comms. As for detective work, although it's probably pointless, get the number of pins, and look for specific lines, like crystal oscillator connections, VDD, VSS, JTAG connections? Is that an ethernet connector there? In my experience (what little I have) they're rarely custom ASIC's, but rather just ASIC's manufactured by several compnies. A google search for ADSL modem controller will probably yeild results. Anyway, my two pence, I don't think it would be useful for anything other than its intended purpose, since true programmable (micro's) devices are more expensive, but I could be wrong, the Amstr@d Em@iler has a lovely ARM7 in it, and the whole thing costs a tenner, so who knows,
Blueteeth