Apple last year launched a program that would give security researchers access to specially configured iPhones for researching security vulnerabilities and exploits.
Sounds like the terms of the settlement are being kept confidential and are not being released to the public. It sounds like Apple may have purchased Corellium.
Yes, but the SRD program reads that they give shell access, which if there are no other changes, is a huge help.
But having said that, it likely isn't as cheap as a standard phone despite being identical, and Apple have the worst reputation of not paying out bounties, so I don't know what kind of uptake it will have in the security scene, when they eventually ship them we will see.