As of March 25th all fixed mount VHF's sold must to have a Class D DSC rating.....apparently the same rule will apply to handhelds in two years. So whether or not the manufacturers choose to add it to GPS enabled units remains to be seen...so don't delay if you have to have a GPS enabled hand held w/DSC buy it in the next two years. By then I suspect that we might see AIS capabilities built into smaller units which will be helpful for SAR but not so much for "knowing" where you are......oh and the STD HX 851 is a great unit.

"On March 25, 2012 the FCC will not accept new applications (but will continue to
process then-pending applications) for certification of handheld, portable DSC-equipped
radios that do not meet the requirements of ITU–R Recommendation M.493–11 or higher
and IEC 62238. On March 25, 2015 the FCC will prohibit the manufacture, importation,
and sale of portable DSC-equipped radios that do not comply with these standards"