Verizon iPhone 5's secret feature: It's "unlocked"

Sonja S. Wong poses with a new Apple iPhone 5 outside the Apple Fifth Avenue flagship store on the first morning it went on sale on September 21, 2012 in New York City. / Getty Images/Mario Tama

(AP) NEW YORK - The Verizon version of the iPhone 5, which went on sale Friday, comes with a secret and unexpected feature: it works on AT&T's network as well.

Confirming blog reports, The Associated Press found that a Verizon iPhone 5 accepts an AT&T "SIM card" — a chip that identifies a phone to a network. The phone can then be active on AT&T's network.

It's the first time Verizon iPhones have been able to access AT&T's network without complicated hacking procedures. The feature gives Verizon customers the option to switch carriers rather than renewing an expired contract.

It's unclear whether the feature is intended and whether the phones will work with other carriers such as T-Mobile USA.

Verizon Wireless referred questions about the SIM card feature to Apple, which did not respond.

[MIO42]

I can't wait for I-PHONE 6
Rumor has it , IT will be free as Apple is tired of dealing with the mountains of Cash