As I understood it, the carrier needs to put in the request. Of course I suspect that Apple would never give an unlock away but just wondered if under any circumstance, they made an exception, even for a price. I saw that negri and cutyoursim were doing imei unlocks. too late for that unfortunately.
In Canada, apparently a couple of our carriers will unlock the phone at the end of the 3 year term. One, Telus, will do it after 90 days, but that doesn't include iphone.
Just another Apple guy...thankful for the technology, disheartened by the flexibility.
Cheers