Kilted Tim-
Thank you for your reply. However, if what you're saying is true, then I would submit to you that Apple has its own, unique definition of “UNLOCKED.”
I went to http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone/iphone3gs and clicked on a link that said (verbatim) "OR GET IPHONE UNLOCKED AND CONTRACT-FREE."
I know it’s not your call, but if what you're saying in your post above is accurate, I would say Apple should remove the word "UNLOCKED" from this link (as well as any other instances where Apple claims an iPhone 3GS is “UNLOCKED”), because it’s NOT UNLOCKED, it’s only CONTRACT-FREE (again, if what you're saying is true).
Honestly, I tend to believe that what you wrote is accurate, and I know Apple would never deliberately mislead its customers, but I can assure you I was misled by the word "UNLOCKED." In fact, to me, the terms "UNLOCKED" (on the ordering page for the iPhone 3GS) and the statement "The iPhone contains settings for all supported carriers" (in your post above) are inconsistent at best. In any event, under no circumstances would I call a phone that works on exactly one network “UNLOCKED,” yet this seems to be the case for iPhone 3GS (as well as all other AT&T-only iPhone models prior to 3GS), if what you're saying is true.
Now, I paid an additional $99 for Apple Care, and I know I’m free to return my so-called "UNLOCKED" iPhone 3GS, but that shouldn’t be the answer that Apple gives to explain this matter (i.e., let’s incorrectly market it as “UNLOCKED” on our website, and then if our customers don’t like it when they find out it’s not really “UNLOCKED” as we claimed, they can just return it.) That’s the wrong answer to me, for whatever that’s worth.
But again, thank you for your prompt reply and clear answer. I think Apple Customer Service is worth every penny and then some. I'm not asking for a reply, but again, I feel like I was misled by Apple on the Apple website. On that note, you insinuated in one of your posts above that Net10 was vague in one or more claims made on their website. I don't necessarily disagree with you on that point, but I would add that Apple is blatantly incorrect and clearly misleading in regard to at least one very important claim made on the Apple website (i.e., the claim that any iPhone 3GS is “UNLOCKED”).
Thank you again for your time.
Regards,
-Jeffrey R. Joers
Apple Support Profile: j.r.j
19 March 2012