As Virgin Mobile USA Gets iPhone, Apple Running Out Of Distributors (S, LEAP, AAPL, T, VZ)

Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S) already has the iPhone for its namesake brand.  Now we have word that its Virgin Mobile USA is following the lead of Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) by making the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone available to prepaid customers.  It will have a pretty interesting ring for new customers as well as it says “Plans as Low as $30 Per Month.”

Virgin Mobile USA will start to offer the iPhone to its prepaid customers starting Friday, June 29 with the offerings being the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S with its Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans for as low as $30 per month.  It will be over the Sprint network.  This marks just one more option for the iPhone to now be available without a contract, with no fees for activation, and without roaming fees.

The company showed that its new and existing customers can make these iPhone purchases online at its own site and also at RadioShack, Best Buy and select local retailers.  The actual plan looks like it is about $35 per month and the $5 credit is for certain accounts.  This also notes that customers can use their iPhone as a mobile hotspot through Virgin Mobile for an additional $15 per month.

Apple is running out of new outlets to sell its iPhone here in the United States.  It is almost everywhere now and AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VZ) have the lion’s share of the iPhone market.

JON C. OGG