In what may be the most anticipated smartphone release ever, companies like Verizon and AT&T have now all but confirmed that Apple's iPhone 5 will be released on September 21.

According to a new report in TechCrunch, Verizon is having an all-staff vacation blackout from the dates of Friday, September 21 to the following Friday, September 30. An AT&T sales representative has also confirmed that employees are not allowed to take time off between September 21 and September 30 as well. In the past these blackouts have aligned with iPhone release dates. Apple is largely rumored to hold an event September 12, as well.

The September 12th date will likely be when Apple announces the new iOS 6 operating system at the very least. It's also believed its when they will introduce the new iPhone 5 to the world, and that pre-orders for the United States might begin on that same day.

According to Business Insider the demand for the iPhone 5 is at an unprecedented level. The market research firm surveyed more than 4,000 consumers in mid-June and found that 14 percent said they were very likely to buy the next iPhone and 17 percent said they were somewhat likely to buy it. In other words, nearly a third of consumers say they will likely buy the fifth generation iPhone.

Not much information outside of conjecture and rumor has been swirling around about the phone just yet. But based on information available, here's what we know right now.

The biggest update to the iPhone 5 is thought to be a new iPhone connector and larger iPhone screen. If true, this is huge news:  Apple's chargers would no longer be consistent across devices. Plus, a larger iPhone screen has been on everyone's wish list since day one.

More rumors surround a centered front facing camera, and according to 9to5mac there's a possibility of Near Field Communication controllers directly connected to the Power Management Unit of the new iPhone.

The next enormous spec change rumored to happen is having 4G LTE compatibility for the iPhone5.

Most Android phones are already using the 4G network, so this move makes complete sense. Next, a quad core processor and upgraded chipset. Next, is the potential of a 3D camera for the iPhone - take this one with a very, very large grain of salt though. Last but not least is the introduction of a "LiquidMetal" casing which would allow for a stronger and unique casing.

In addition to a few new specs, you can expect to see an updated operating system, aka iOS 6.

Apple may very well keep its price structure that it had for previous model, the iPhone 4S, according to WPTV.com. That smartphone went for prices of $199, $299 and $399 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, respectively. It's believed that Apple will need to keep a similar pricing structure in order to compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S III phone.

Apple has yet to release any official photos of its iPhone 5. However, recently, Apple.pro, a Chinese website that specializes in everything directly or indirectly related to Apple news, actually managed to get hold of new photographs depicting the alleged pieces of the new iPhone 5.

Check out the photos here.

These photographs suggest a chip that could allow NFC technology for the Apple iPhone 5. These photographs should be taken lightly, of course, but nonetheless they are interesting and could lead to the launch of several services and dedicated applications.

Apple and NFC technology is not a particularly great love story. Even though there are more and more Android devices incorporating such chips, Apple has never really been concerned about this technology.

Apple will indeed launch a new application with iOS 6, called Passbook. Simply put, it is an application that will gather all tickets and all membership cards of the user in one place. This app is a bit like a virtual wallet, where you can find all the necessary information that is useful for trips and travels. Although, it will mostly be professionals who will benefit most from this application, others should also be able to find some interest in it.

Apple is known for last minute surprises so, keep your eyes peeled for more iPhone news in the coming few days.