Does this mean Branson is getting iPhone 5 when it launches? Virgin Mobile USA has announced that it will be carrying the iPhone beginning on June 29. For those who don’t know, Virgin Mobile USA is a prepaid brand operated by Sprint.

The most notable part about the announcement is that it will be offering service plans for as low as $30 per month, with no commitment for automatic payments on sign up.

Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans for iPhone start at $35 per month for access to Sprint’s Nationwide Network, and customers can receive a $5 per-month plan discount when they register for automatic monthly payments with a credit card, debit card or PayPal account, making iPhone available for as low as $30 per month. Customers can also use their iPhone as a mobile hotspot through Virgin Mobile for an additional $15 per month.

Virgin will not be subsidizing the iPhone hardware, so the 8GB iPhone 4 will be priced at $549, and the 16GB iPhone 4S at $649. All three of Virgin Mobile’s plans include unlimited texting and data, although the data is throttled after 2.5GB.

The only differentiating factor is voice minutes. You get  a $5 discount for automatic payments, and with that discount the plans are priced at $30 (300 minutes), $40 (1200 minutes), and $50 (unlimited minutes). Virgin Mobile will offer the iPhon through its website, Best Buy, RadioShack, and other retailers.

[via MacRumors]