Does Apple sell unlocked iPhones?

Yes. All phones purchased directly from Apple can be an unlocked version. Quite honestly, I don't know why they bother to sell ones that are tied to Verizon, AT&T, etc.

Bob Timmons wrote:

If you are buying from Apple, you will need to tell them who your provider might be. The phone will be set up to work only with that provider.

That is NOT correct. Any iPhone purchased directly from Apple will be unlocked, unless it is financed through a carrier. If it is not financed through the carrier Apple can set it up with any carrier and it will still be unlocked.

All iPhones sold by Apple are unlocked. They can be used with any carrier of your choice. They do not need to be setup with a specific carrier during purchase.

The only exception to this, is iPhones purchased with AT&Ts installment plan. Those would be locked to AT&T. iPhones purchased with any other carrier are unlocked.

To get a factory unlocked phone, make sure to choose the option, Connect on your own later.

You will always be able to switch to any carrier with any phone purchased with that option. It will never lock itself to any specific carrier.

It is up to the user to install a passcode for the iPhone during the initial set up. If the phone were already locked, users would not be able to set up their phones.

Or, do you mean something else when you say "unlocked"?

If you are buying from Apple, you will need to tell them who your provider might be. The phone will be set up to work only with that provider.