I went into my local store today with the intention of clarifying that there'd be no problem activating a new iPhone that I was going to buy at the Apple Store, a "sim free" phone. I want this because I don't want to be beholdin' to Verizon - I want the freedom to switch carriers if I grow dissatisfied with VZW.
They seemed surprised that I'd go to Apple -- 2 reps assured me that certain iPhones, and I believe they said everything from the 6 onward, were sold "unlocked" by Verizon.
Is this, in fact, true, and is there any difference between "unlocked" and "sim free?