Read this blog and am interested with any feedback form any qualified Verizon customers who has or will test this potential new ability out.
http://wyang0.blogspot.com/2012/01/verizon-wi-fi-for-all-devices-mac-linux.html
Cell phone hotspot deveices such as mifis and phones have always worked with iPads, iPhones, and any other manufacturer's wifi devices. Using a mifi or phone hotspot is no different than connecting your iPad to any wifi router.
The blog is referencing the hotspot list available through the relationship Verizon has with Boingo.
Some Verizon DSL and Fiber customers have access to these hotspots but only on supported devices with software installed. These devices until possibly now have excluded Mac laptops as well as the iPod Touch and iPad.
So your question has to do with Boingo service not Verizon Hotspots which have always worked with any wifi device.
I don't know anything about Boingo but from the article you linked to "You are then asked to download the software. However, you don't actually need the software, although it makes the Wi-Fi much easier to use on Windows. For all other platforms, you can simply use Boingo's web login page."
Whether using Windows, iDevices, etc., one has never had to download any software in order to use routers or Hotspots. Boingo is a special service, not a standard wifi Hotspot.
According to Verizon's website:
How can I find Verizon Wi-Fi hotspots?There are three methods for finding Verizon Wi-Fi hotspots:
http://www22.verizon.com/ResidentialHelp/FiOSInternet/Networking/Setup/Wi-Fi/124 660.htm
Regarding Apple products:
Here is a Verizon blog establishing their Wi-Fi hotspots to not work on iPads etc.
http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-Internet/WiFi-Connect-Utility-for-Mac/td-p/294 039
I think you are confused thinking that you are restricted to using Verizon's Boingo service. The iPad will connect to Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc. wifi hotspots created with mifis or phones. You are confusing Boingo, a proprietary wifi access point with standard wifi hotspots. Your iPad will connect to any wifi hotspot that is not proprietary such as Boingo's. Go to Starbucks, a hotel, restaurant, your own mifi, anyone elses mifi, a library, etc. Your iPad will connect to those wifi hotspots, unless they have proprietary login requirements (such as a paid account, flash screens, etc.)
The point here as I get it is that if you have a DSL account with Verizon or a data card with Verizon Wirless
the list of Wifi access points Verizon makes available , at not charge, to it's subsiber base has only worked on Windows devices. IE if you own a Windows lap top and plug in your Verizon Wireless USB modem you can use your VZAccess software to pull up Wifi access points to use, for free, as a Verizon Wireless customer. If you also own a Macbook pro the Verizon Wirless VZAccess software does not even have a tab to pull up hotspots in your area as Verizon does not support this on Macs.
Verizon wifi hotspots now works on the iPad?
