Gimmick alert!

My experience with the AT&T shared data plan (AT&T Mobile Share) for a family of 5 smartphones.

Unshared Option

3GB line/mo $30/line/mo = $150 15GB per month for 5 lines. $5/mo unlimited text = $30 per months for 5 lines. $60 700 rollover voice mins family plan (700 is the lowest you can go on voice). On average, we use less than 200 voice minutes per month). Total Cost $240.

Shared Option

$70 per mo "base cost" plus $40/line/mo = $200 for 4GB shared data per month plus unlimited text and voice. Total cost $270.

If like us, you are a heavy data user, the Shared Option would cost $30 more per month and would get you 11GB LESS than the Unshared plan. Unlimited Voice is a "don't care" for us.

Conclusions

First, AT&T Mobile Share is a gimmick. Even though its billed as shared "data", what you're really getting is unlimited Voice (the sales rep conceded).

Second, being charged a minimum $60/mo for 700 mins of voice that we dont use and need is bogus. We, the consumers, are subsidizing AT&T. There should be a no-voice option with 911 only service.

Third, and most significantly, carriers are still stuck on selling voice service and they are hocking it as if it matters.