This is good news... I think. Then again, maybe it's a gimmick that will have little practical benefit.

London Underground is seeking to have Wi-Fi installed on 120 stations by the time of next year's London Olympics.

Transport for London (TfL) has asked for tenders from telecoms companies to make the installations. The bidder will be chosen by the end of 2011, giving the winning company some six months to get the network up and running.

It follows a successful trial at Charing Cross tube station run by BT.

The first phase of the roll-out would involve extending a system already in use for staff at 16 stations to the wider public.

London's mayor Boris Johnson said the installations "will allow Londoners to use mobile devices to pick up their emails, access social media sites and stay in touch with the world above while they traverse our subterranean transport network".

The service will not operate on trains, however.

Source: V3.co.uk