David Christopher, for AT&T’s Consumer Blog:

Our new AT&T Mobile Share plans will be available starting Thursday, Aug. 23.As families prepare to send students back to school, many are looking for a convenient way to connect tablets and laptops or add new smartphones. AT&T Mobile Share plans are a great option.

Whether they’re “a great option” depends entirely on your current plan and how much data you’re using on your devices. But for some families, the plan may make more sense than paying for individual data plans for each phone. A “Mobile Share Planner” tool AT&T has put on the Web site may make it easier for you to figure that out.