Sprint just announced that they are acquiring Virgin Mobile USA for $483m. And there’s already talks about why the marketing budget for the Palm Pre was not up to the hype.

For Sprint, which already owns 13.1 percent of Virgin Mobile and which allows the MVNO – Mobile Virtual Network Operator – to use its network, this is a wise move. It brings to the company some five million customers who are already using its network, and more than doubles the size of its prepaid business, Boost, which has recently had quite a bit of success.

“This acquisition will strengthen Sprint’s position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together under one umbrella the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint’s successful Boost Mobile business”, said the company in a statement.

As part of the deal, Sprint will pay off all of Virgin Mobile USA’s outstanding debt, which is expected to amount to around $205m. The acquisition will not, however, net them ownership of the Virgin Mobile USA brand; this will continue to be licensed from the Virgin Group at a cost of $12.7m for the period from now until December 31st 2021.

Virgin Mobile USA was the final remaining significant MVNO operating in the US. The company acquired CDMA rival Helio back in June 2008.

Some people on the internet and on the street are talking about the possibility of using the Palm Pre with Virgin Mobile. What is your take on this? Let us know in the comments area.

[Via SlashGear]