They will definitely have the iphone unlocked but not from big brands like rogers or at&t. You will be able to buy it from smaller cell phone stores because, they will be able to unlock it. Plus, to unlock a phone, it costs only $20 and a very simple for the iphone. It's just a pin code the plug into the iphone to unlock it. My friend owns a kiosk cell phone store and he was unlocked many iphones and says it's really easy.
Alternative to iphone would be the HTC TyTn 2 which is touch screen and has a keyboard. My friend owns both i phone and TyTn 2 and he says TyTn 2 is way better.