Unlocked iPhone 4 rumored to hit U.S. Apple Stores this week

There’s an unconfirmed rumor spreading that unlocked iPhone 4’s are coming to U.S. Apple stores this coming Wednesday.

According to Twitter user @chronicwire, identified by AppAdvice as Will Strafach, four specific models are already on its way to U.S. Apple Stores, ready for a Wednesday release. The notion of unlocked iPhones being sold in Apple stores isn’t exactly new; however if it’s true, it will be a first for U.S. customers who have been tied to telecom networks AT&T and Verizon since the initial launch of the iPhone.

According to CNet, there have been reports saying that @chronicwire is a “well-known source” and that the unlocked iPhone rumor is considered “certain,” but these claims have yet to be confirmed. The Twitter account was apparently set up just a week ago and started tweeting all kinds of purported iPhone leaks and rumors.

According to the report, it is likely that the unlocked phones would only work on GSM carriers. Either way, it might be an indication that Apple is already flushing out stocks of the iPhone 4 to make way for the next iPhone refresh.

What’s more interesting though is that this move– again if confirmed true– could possibly set a precedence for unlocked versions of the upcoming iPhones not just in the U.S. but in other countries as well.