MOBILE PROTOCOL GSM TURNS 20 TODAY!

Happy birthday, dear Global System for Mobile Communications! 20 years ago today, on July 1 1991, the world's first GSM call was made by Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri. The historic call used Nokia gear on GSM's original 900MHz band. Today GSM is all grown up and ruling the world -- connecting 1.5 billion people in 212 countries and serving 80% of the planet's mobile market.

GSM gave us a number of firsts. It was the first fully digital cellular system using TDMA to cram more information into less spectrum and provide better sounding, more reliable calls using less power. It introduced the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the idea of switching handsets at will (something carriers have sought to subvert by locking phones), and the reality of international roaming. Short Messaging Service (SMS) was first launched on GSM networks, along with packet data (GPRS and later EDGE), which made internet access practical on mobile devices. Eventually, GSM expanded to the 400, 800, 1800 and 1900MHz bands and evolved into WDCMA-based UMTS (3G) and later HSPA and HSPA+, followed by LTE (4G) networks.

So next time you're at the coffee shop sipping on that latte while uploading that video to YouTube at 10Mbps using your LTE phone, remember to be thankful for that first GSM call 20 years ago -- that's when the mobile revolution really started.

RUMOR: iPHONE 5 DESIGN & SPECS REVEALED

See that up there? That could be your next iPhone. It's a mock-up of what is said to be the iPhone 5, according to anonymous sources quoted by Joshua Topolsky.

A continuation of the concepts laid out in our post-CES look at what's next for Apple, the design here is said to be thin, metal-backed, tapered, and sporting a 3.7-inch display with the same 960 x 640 resolution in the iPhone 4's retina display, resulting in a slight drop from that phone's vaunted 326ppi density. The home button is quite obviously enlarged, possibly adding some thumbable gestures into the mix.

Internals are said to include a "swipable" area, possibly meaning NFC, along with a Qualcomm Gobi chipset with support for CDMA and GSM, so this could be the one phone to rule all the carriers. Or, it might wind up only ever having domain over a single .PSD file. To us, well, it looks a little too thin to be packing all that and a bag of antennas as suggested and, with all the weight at the top, we can see this things flying out of hands left and right. But, we're certainly willing to be surprised.

The source did update his statement to say the bevel may be exaggerated and the back may not be metal.

APPLE'S iPAD2 TO HAVE UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION, CDMA AND GSM SUPPORT

Haven't bought an iPad yet? Good, the next the generation is shaping up to be major. The iPad 2 (or iPad v2) is strongly rumored to have the following enhancements:

• Inclusion of a Qualcomm CDMA-GSM chip creating a “World iPad” for all networks
• A front-facing camera for FaceTime
• A unibody case made out of a single sheet of metal meaning no pins
• A new design/component layout meaning a thinner tablet

LEAKED: iPHONE WILL NOT SUPPORT 4G

It is being reported by numerous sources the iPhone will not support 4G, at least in the foreseeable future.  With the rampant rumors of a Verizon iPhone coming, or being announced, in January, it is being speculated that the phone would support the 4G/LTE deployment Verizon is rolling out.  According to a sources the annual refresh of the iPhone in mid-2011 will not support 4G/LTE either.  Instead, Apple will concentrate on a dual CDMA/GSM iPhone so it can be used on any carrier in the world.  The earliest a 4G iPhone would be available then would be mid-2012.  This makes good business sense for Apple as 4G/LTE deployment has just started and won't really kick into gear until the later part of 2011. [TechCrunch]

SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLET ON MULTIPLE CARRIERS

With all the hype and Verizon Wireless's own statements, one would assume the Samsung Galaxy Tablet was headed to just one carrier.  The Wall Street Journal is now reporting, sourcing "three people familiar with the matter" that the tablet will be available on the Verizon, AT&T and Sprint networks.

Samsung has vast experience in making their mobile devices using CDMA, GSM and even WiMax technology, so it is no surprise they are casting the Galaxy tablet net far and wide.  Pricing for each carrier is still undetermined, but it would appear that potential users would need another contract for their carrier of choice. [Engadget]