What does unlocked mean for iPhones?

I want to buy an iPhone 4 or 4s but I have Metro PCS and they don't support Apple products. I've heard that if I get it "unlocked" then I can activate it with Metro. Can someone explain this entire process to me please?

What's unlocked means is that the iPhone can connect to any carrier But sadly Metro PCS does not flash the iPhones Anymore unless you have a friend with the hook up
Lol

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Unlocked means that the phone is not "registered" to any cell phone company and thus be a prepaid phone.

If Metro doest support an iPhone now then most likely it won't when your "Lock" your phone with metro

You BUY a unlocked iPhone. Theese iPhones can be used on most carriers and most pre-paids. They are not LOCKed to one carrier. It depends on the carrier SIM card. Also unlocked cost more because you aren't paying it monthly through an contract. Factory Unlocked means that it doesn't really have any purpose in the iPhones life and will cost you about $1000

You buy a unlocked iphone means you can get it on any carrier that supports gsm networks i'm not sure if metro pcs is, but just ask them

Even though you get an unlocked phone you can't use a CDMA network on your iPhone 4 or 4s or whatever the model may be.

Additional Info:

Due to the high device turnover rate among MetroPCS customers, the carrier will shutdown its CDMA network by 2015 and repurpose the spectrum for expanded 4G LTE coverage. Customers will be migrated to GSM-based devices offered by T-Mobile, while at the same time the carrier will continue refarming its 1900MHz spectrum to improve its GSM and HSPA+ coverage.