As has been stated multiple time, VERIZON PHONES CAN'T BE UNLOCKED TO WORK IN THE US but you can unlock then to work overseas. Now if and when this will change due to the new bill in congress - who know but Verizon phones are pretty useless second hand that's why you see a ton for so cheap.
I snagged at 64Gb version and had it unlocked for a German friend, great but not really useful for regular US Joe.
As for the jail breaking and other means, good luck - went down the jail break route and it's not for those without huge ballls! Pain in the arse and when it's time for a new IOS update you have to do it all over again - useless for 99.999% of us but why not for the other handful of folks who want to spend their time with it, why not.