I pick this thread in front again. I have short question, I am wondering if it's possible to buy a contract free and unlocked Verizon iPhone in the Apple store or a Best Buy store right now? It is just to ask for a device only?
Hope for an answer
Hen9ng
The straightforward answer is "yes." But it's a bit complicated.
The phones that Apple markets as "unlocked" are all ATT/TMobile phones.
Since Verizon's pre-LTE network is CDMA and not GSM, Apple does not sell an "unlocked" Verizon phone. That said, the iPhone 5 for Verizon has a SIM slot and for LTE frequencies that slot is completely unlocked. And Verizon has even said they will NOT ever lock it. So if you can get your hands on a Verizon phone, ANY verizon phone, it will be unlocked.
The question, then, is how to buy the phone itself. A Few options:
1. Buy it from Verizon and sign up for a 24 moth contract. Pay $199 for the phone and about $100 for the first month's service, and after 14 days cancel the whole contract and pay an ETF of about $340. This is complex and may not work for you, but the overall price is slightly less than full retail of $649.
2. Go to an Apple store and buy a "device only" Verizon phone for full price. I do NOT know if this will work or not; it used to work just, but Apple may insist you give them your verizon account info. I have not tried it, so I can't say (I did no. 1, above). If someone could confirm doing this, it would help you a lot. Sorry I can't.
2b. You could also try to buy from a verizon store, but I think you'd be even less likely to just pay for the phone and go home with it.
