Sorry but you are incorrect.

The OP was discussing the iPhone specifically and I was pointing out that the iPhone is no different to any other phone as far as having to enter a wireless password in order to connect to a wireless network.

Additionally, the OP was quite explicit viz a via:

"Assume the iPhone gets stolen, the thief could read that password,"

And my response was quite correct that the thief count not read the password, it is ***** out and thus simply would not be able to read it.

You can retrieve the "password" (the pre-shared key) using this app http://modmyi.com/cydia/com.malcolmhall.wifipasswords

Cydia = jailbreak

Once one has gotten past the pin code or other form of locking the phone of course.

However, if someone leaves their phone completely open, jailbroken or not, they deserve all they get.

To access your wireless network, and in order for the phone to connect to it, yes you would need to enter your wireless password.

As I said, this is just not true for a phone that has already connected to the network - any phone. It would be hopelessly inconvenient if you needed to re-enter the password every time you connected to your home network.

I'm not going to get into an argument about iPhones versus any other phone; this holds for all smart phones.

I never said the phone doesn't save the password, however a thief would NOT be able to read the password.

You are absolutely incorrect if you think otherwise.

There is no argument, you are simply wrong.

As already explained, the thief would only have to jailbreak the iphone, install the app and see the psk.

I'm not disputing the reading of the password (although BatBoy makes a good point). But the thief would be able to connect to the user's network without entering a password, which is the real concern. (It really doesn't matter that you can't read a password if you don't need it!) What you said about having to enter the password to connect to the network is quite wrong.

Once connected there are all sorts of tools to help infiltrate further. A simple terminal session would be a good starting point.

Refer to the OPs post which clearly states "read" and stop being foolish.

They would have to get into the phone first, and anyone who leaves their phone insecure deserves all they get.

If someone is so paranoid as the OP about non-issues then one would expect the phone to be pretty secure in the first place.