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WiFi Connect Utility for Mac?

I've been a FIOS customer for a few years now and was pleased when they added free hotspot access via the Verizon WiFi Connect utility, so I can access wifi at airports. When the utility was first rolled out, it was only available for windows platforms, but I've continually been told - and seems many others have as well - that a version for Macintosh was in the works.

Now that I've made the decision to purchase an iPad, does anyone have a true update as to when VZ will offer the wifi connect utility for iOS platforms? I would think that with vz offering the iphone and ipad, that they would recognize the value of having the wifi connect utility for these customers as well.

I've tried calling customer service, and get transfered to tech support and of course they don't have any information.

Thanks for any information/suggestions (other than traveling with my pc!)

Comments

Peter_VZ

Unfortunately DFWSky, we do not have an eta on when the Wifi Connect will be available for Apple products. Once a date is made official we can post it.

Thank you

Peter C

DFWSky

Thanks for the response - but can you clarify whether this is even being worked on, rather than the same answer we've had for over 18 months?

Since VZ now offers iPhone and iPad, seems rather odd that they wouldn't yet have the utility.

Hubrisnxs

well for a question like that, you'll have to Share Your Ideas with Verizon so that you can get some kind of answer and timeline.

My guess is that if there is no timeline, it will be hard for them to answer that. If you get it in the ideas exchange (and PLEASE MAKE SURE TO ASK FOR an iphone and droid APP too) then they can give an answer whether it's even on the table, or on the backburner or they just barely got the suggestion from you. it will give you a better idea.

klb

Vz has been saying a mac version is not yet available for YEARS. I don't know why they don't admit that they don't care what their customers want -- they will only give you what they want you to have. They don't care what you want - especially if you use mac.

smith6612

I honestly don't understand why the Wi-FI Hotspot service even requires a proprietary program to even use it. Any device with Wi-Fi can associate with an access point and should have a web browser built-in that can take care of authentication. While Verizon really has no Wi-Fi Hotspots in this area, most are open to the public with a simple walled garden page with the TOS and an agree button, perhaps it should be something that should be considered. It'd give anyone with a capable device access to it simply by logging in using a Verizon login tied to a master account that qualifies for Wi-Fi Hotspot services.

lasagna

I'm with smith6612 here ... this should be a basic captive portal kind of thing where you can bind automatically and the first time you try to go anywhere with a browser you get prompted with a signin page like at most hotels -- where you can login with your Verizon email address and password for free wifi access.

I too have an Apple and an iPad and it's disappointing not to be able to access the wifi at airports -- although thanks to work I have a MiFi and simply use that instead.

I wonder if you could run a VM on the Apple (with a Microsoft OS inside) in NAT mode (if you're using VMware) and use it to establish the connection to the wifi which the Apple could native OS could then ride as well since it would be behind the same IP and MAC address? Yeah ... I know that means extra software on the MAC and money to Microsloth, but might be an option.

smith6612

That might work. It's possible the Verizon tool may work under WINE for Mac/*nix, unless someone else has tried it already.

ywlke

I'm not sure when this happened or if it's always been true, but you can use Verizon Wi-Fi with other devices now. See http://wyang0.blogspot.com/2012/01/verizon-wi-fi-for-all-devices-mac-linux.html

silentlotus

we Mac users are paying Verizon for a service we are not getting

it is time we got a discount until this issue is resolved

Verizon please fix this !

vendude

This is outrageous. Verizon said they were working on this in 2009.

This is clearly a lie.

as they are leasing the wifi from boingo it's clear they havee some other reason to prevent mac and ipad users from using the wifi. could it be sales of their connected phones? i suppose kind of obvious. ]

But this is bait and switch advertising. the small type is small and like all the res of the hidden fees upon renewing, the different reporting when signing up and then when renewing such that the difference between the top of the line triple play in years on and two vs. the following years is by my figuring more than 1500 dollars more expensive.

It seems petty and lame to be stingy about using wifi with a non proprietary client .

Lamelamelame.

somegirl

@vendude wrote:
This is outrageous. Verizon said they were working on this in 2009.
This is clearly a lie.
as they are leasing the wifi from boingo it's clear they havee some other reason to prevent mac and ipad users from using the wifi. could it be sales of their connected phones? i suppose kind of obvious. ]
But this is bait and switch advertising. the small type is small and like all the res of the hidden fees upon renewing, the different reporting when signing up and then when renewing such that the difference between the top of the line triple play in years on and two vs. the following years is by my figuring more than 1500 dollars more expensive.
It seems petty and lame to be stingy about using wifi with a non proprietary client .
Lamelamelame.

Since you seem to have missed it:

@ywlke wrote:
I'm not sure when this happened or if it's always been true, but you can use Verizon Wi-Fi with other devices now. Seehttp://wyang0.blogspot.com/2012/01/verizon-wi-fi-for-all-devices-mac-linux.html

joelw1351

Another Mac app not ready for prime time. Media Manager is another. Caller ID on the Mac another. The list goes on.

safe_as_milk

somegirl wrote on 06-05-2012 11:13 PM

Since you seem to have missed it:

ywlke wrote:
I'm not sure when this happened or if it's always been true, but you can use Verizon Wi-Fi with other devices now. See http://wyang0.blogspot.com/2012/01/verizon-wi-fi-for-all-devices-mac-linux.html

VERIZON CUSTOMERS DO NOT HAVE FREE ACCESS TO BOINGO HOTSPOTS FROM THEIR IPHONES

so, i decided to test the method for connecting an iphone to a boingo hotspot as described in william yang's blog. i used the boingo iphone app to locate the boingo hotspot in my neighborhood. it does not connect you with the hotspot from within the app. it seems to open a splash page in safari for the boingo hotspot. it asks for you username and password but there is no place to indicate that you are a roaming verizon customer. it is unable to log you in. i spent several minutes experimenting with safari and the boingo app and did not succeed in getting in as a verizon customer.

has anyone done this successfully with an iphone? i can't find anything on the web where someone claims to have gotten this to work with a verizon account. i would love to be proven wrong. somebody should start a class action lawsuit!

VerizonNot4Mac

Still NO SUPPORT for MAC or iPHONE! Looks LIke I won't be buying my iPhone 5 from Verizon. At&ts network is faster anyway.

somegirl

@safe_as_milk wrote:

VERIZON CUSTOMERS DO NOT HAVE FREE ACCESS TO BOINGO HOTSPOTS FROM THEIR IPHONES
so, i decided to test the method for connecting an iphone to a boingo hotspot as described in william yang's blog. i used the boingo iphone app to locate the boingo hotspot in my neighborhood. it does not connect you with the hotspot from within the app. it seems to open a splash page in safari for the boingo hotspot. it asks for you username and password but there is no place to indicate that you are a roaming verizon customer.
it is unable to log you in. i spent several minutes experimenting with safari and the boingo app and did not succeed in getting in as a verizon customer. has anyone done this successfully with an iphone? i can't find anything on the web where someone claims to have gotten this to work with a verizon account. i would love to be proven wrong. somebody should start a class action lawsuit!

Did you use the username and password you created when you registered at http://www.verizon.net/wifi/ for your WiFi account?

Goldmind1

Just researching htis issue -- over TWO YEARS after this cop-out response. I find it inexplicable how Verizon can be so dismissive of the fastest growing OS for mobile devices. They sell the iPhone adn iPad! And almost 1/2 of smart phones run on IOS!

somegirl

@Goldmind wrote:
Just researching htis issue -- over TWO YEARS after this cop-out response. I find it inexplicable how Verizon can be so dismissive of the fastest growing OS for mobile devices. They sell the iPhone adn iPad! And almost 1/2 of smart phones run on IOS!

This has been resolved. Verizon customers have access to Boing hotspots without the client. I'm not sure what you are upset about...

As an aside, Android has a larger market share than IOS. It's not "the fastest growing OS for mobile devices." Sorry.

pa19034

How does one access Boing hotspots with iOS or Droid? thanks.

dccampfin

More than 2 years later, any developments on this front? If not, guess I'll start tweeting about it.

dslr595148

@dccampfin wrote:
More than 2 years later, any developments on this front? If not, guess I'll start tweeting about it.

I will repeat what was said in this thread, post number 10 (page 1 - very bottom)

I'm not sure when this happened or if it's always been true, but you can use Verizon Wi-Fi with other devices now. See http://wyang0.blogspot.com/2012/01/verizon-wi-fi-for-all-devices-mac-linux.html

ljlaffer

I was able to register for Verizon Wi-Fi with my Mac by downloading the Firefox User Agent Switcher 0.7.3. Once you have this add-on, your Firefox browser can be set be announced as a Win browser such as IE 7, IE 8. This allowed be to register. It then wants to have me download their app which is a .exe. Obviously this wont work for me on a Mac. So as someone else suggested, you'll want to login to the Boingo hotspot via their login page at the location, not via the app. Shouldn't be a problem although the big question will be answered when I actually try to connect to a Boingo Hotspot.

@DFWSky wrote:
I've been a FIOS customer for a few years now and was pleased when they added free hotspot access via the Verizon WiFi Connect utility, so I can access wifi at airports. When the utility was first rolled out, it was only available for windows platforms, but I've continually been told - and seems many others have as well - that a version for Macintosh was in the works.
Now that I've made the decision to purchase an iPad, does anyone have a true update as to when VZ will offer the wifi connect utility for iOS platforms? I would think that with vz offering the iphone and ipad, that they would recognize the value of having the wifi connect utility for these customers as well.
I've tried calling customer service, and get transfered to tech support and of course they don't have any information.
Thanks for any information/suggestions (other than traveling with my pc!)

ElizabethS

As this thread is now over two years old, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

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