Cannot remove references to OPTUS Services

Sensible move - you can tell how old it is by looking here and seeing how much warranty is left on it. While not being definitive, it might give you an indication of the phones 'true' age as compared with the actual age you might have expected if it were new.

https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do

FWIW there are very few places (certainly not in the UK) that you can get new, unlocked, SIM free iPhones - the overwhelming majority are locked and maybe unlocked legally (but frequently illegally).

The problem will be wrranty for you - if its not a UK phone, and it develops a fault, it has to be returned to its country of original sale.

RoySC wrote:
I am based in the UK, and I purchased my iPhone 3GS in Australia, which does not tie me to any particular service provider.

Partially true - all Australian iPhones are carrier locked but can be unlocked by the relevant carrier. Have you paid Optus to unlock it ?

As I am not using, and have never used OPTUS as a service provider, I want to remove the entry so that I can use my Voicemail services via Virgin Mobile UK, instead of via an attempted International call to OPTUS. Is there some way this can be done please?

If it has Optus in the information, it must have been on the Optus network at some time - is the phones second hand ?

Only Optus can unlock it but you would have to consult them about the payment of the fees to unlock it.