Got your eye on an iPhone 4S? What about a Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket? Multiple reports that AT&T is set to double its upgrade fee on Sunday, February 12, from $18 to $36 may motivate you to get to the store a bit quicker to get that snazzy new smartphone.

The wireless giant confirmed the news to The Huffington Post in an email on Saturday:

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. This fee isn’t unique to AT&T and this is the first time we’re changing it in nearly 10 years.

Gizmodo reports, however, that Verizon doesn’t have an upgrade fee, while Sprint raised its upgrade fee in September to $36.

(Android Central got its hands on screenshot of a document with AT&T’s talking points about the fee increase, so click over to see the image.)

Wireless and Mobile News notes the increase comes just days ahead of the February 19th release of the Samsung Galaxy Note phone/tablet hybrid.

AT&T lost $6.68 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, much of which was attributed to the failed acquisition of T-Mobile USA, according to The Associated Press. Days later, Reuters reported a management shakeup at the Dallas-based company.

(Source: Huff Post)