Originally Posted by
gfunkdave
Doesn't have anything to do with carrier unlocking. The presence of that menu item is controlled by the SIM in the phone. Verizon, for example, hides it if you're in the US and shows it if you're outside the country.
All Verizon iPhones and LTE capable phones are carrier unlocked since the FCC included the condition in a Verizon spectrum purchase by Verizon. The FCC does not have that agreement with the other 3 major US cell companies. Ironically, Verizon also agreed to LTE in rural American but is now ending some rural America cell phone accounts.
It was hidden in our AT&T iphones until the AT&T tech carrier unlocked our iphones. Now we can see and switch from auto to manual for other carriers with the AT&T SIM while in the US. Yes, the option only appears on carrier unlocked iPhones.
From Verizon's website
http://www.verizon.com/about/consume...locking-policy
Device Unlocking Policy
We have a Device Unlocking Policy that covers postpay devices, prepaid devices and the policy for Deployed Military Personnel.
We do not lock most phones or tablets that are activated with our postpay service, either during or after the term of your service contract or Device Payment Plan installment sales agreement.
We do not lock our 4G LTE devices, and no code is needed to program them for use with another carrier.