AT&T Doubling Upgrade Fee to $36 From Feb 12th

If you're planning to upgrade to iPhone 5 / iPhone 6 (depending on what Apple decides to call their next generation iPhone) then it has just got a little bit more expensive.

BGR reports that AT&T is increasing the upgrade fee charged when customers upgrade to a new handset on contract from $18 to $36.

The new upgrade fee goes into effect from Sunday, February 12th. BGR reported earlier: BGR has been informed by multiple readers via email that AT&T has sent them notices regarding the increased fee, which had previously been $18. ”Because the overall costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased, effective Sunday, February 12, 2012, AT&T will change its upgrade fee from $18 to $36,” AT&T said in a note to dealers obtained by BGR.

AT&T has since confirmed the change. They told BGR:

“Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee,” an AT&T spokesperson told BGR via email. “This fee isn’t unique to AT&T and this is the first time we’re changing it in nearly 10 years.”

We expect other carriers to follow AT&T's footsteps as well.

What do you think of the upgrade fee? Do you think it's a rip-off?