Both Sprint and Verizon have confirmed that consumers will be able to have the GSM side of their iPhone 4S handsets unlocked. According to a Macworld report, Sprint plans to sell all of its iPhone 4S units with the micro-SIM slot unlocked, while Verizon’s will be locked initially, but can be unlocked if the customers are in good standing for 60 days.
The latter has been Verizon’s policy for all world phones, according to the report. The change may make it more affordable for iPhone users with Sprint or Verizon contracts to use their devices when abroad than those on AT&T, since AT&T’s iPhone 4S units will arrive locked, forcing users to pay AT&T’s international roaming fees, while Sprint or Verizon iPhone 4S users can simply pop in a new micro-SIM from a local carrier.
Update: Ars Technica reports that it has spoken with a Sprint representative, who said that while the Sprint iPhone 4S will be able to roam internationally on GSM networks, its micro-SIM slot will not be unlocked.