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GM Plans Global Rollout of 4G Mobile Broadband Service

General Motors Co. will begin next year to equip its new cars and light trucks worldwide with high-speed 4G mobile data connectivity.

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General Motors Co. will begin next year to equip its new cars and light trucks worldwide with high-speed 4G mobile data connectivity.

GM will work with AT&T to debut the faster service in 2015-model Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles introduced 18 months from now in the U.S. and Canada. The carmaker says it will announce similar deals with other carriers overseas in the next several months.

So-called 4G LTE (for long-term evolution) offers as much as 10 times the speed of 3G mobile systems. GM says the greater throughput will enable its vehicles to download applications faster, serve as mobile wi-fi hot spots and receive streaming video and real-time traffic updates.

Earlier this year GM unveiled a new set of vehicle application programming interfaces. The protocols are intended to encourage developers to create new apps and infotainment features for the company's vehicles.

The 4G capability, including external antenna, will be integrated into each vehicle's electrical system. GM notes that accessing the high-speed services won't require customers to have a smartphone.

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