iPad impact on Phones

TechCrunch's Mike Arrington unofficially reviews the iPad and this line resonated with my own anticpated behaviour for the device. Link

"I suspect I’ll rarely be away from this device. In fact it will make my phone far less important for non-calling uses (emphasis mine).

I may not have the iPad in my pocket with my phone, but it will certainly be in my bag over my shoulder. With a 3G data plan I’ll use it to read the news, look up movie times and reviews, send instant messages and emails, and lots of other things that I do with my phone. I’m not so sure I need to have the latest and greatest phone device any more, knowing that there’s an iPad within reach."

If I'm willing to carry the iPad out and about I might not automatically jump to a smartphone to do consuming-content-type-stuff (this is location dependent obviously). A phone primarily becomes a voice / sms / and portable camera and that means a big screened smartphone is overkill.

For those individuals that already carry two or more devices (such as a blackberry and phone) I wonder if the iPad will replace either.

We'll see soon.

[Update: August 2010] Ok. Having lived with the iPad for a few months there's one thing that I got right and one I got wrong.

Right: The iPad form factor/consumer appliance in some way shape or form is here to stay over the next 5 years I bet ("I'll rarely be away from this device"). It's being used in the office and at home pretty much constantly and travel inbetween a lot. Like others, the laptop hardly comes out at home anymore, however it's still used on occasions and for now with iPad Generation1, is still needed.

Wrong: Less use of the smartphone by using iPad more (if you're using an iPhone and an iPad). I'd underestimated Apple's iEcosystem + iDevice1 + iDevice2 combination effect. iTunes + iDevice1 is a given (for purchasing and synching apps, music, books etc) and what most users are accustomed to. Hold that thought.

Now add in Apple's Halo effect; iDevice users are more likely to buy other iDevices.
In this case coupling the iPad (iDevice1) with an iPhone4 (iDevice2) provides a more seamless usage across iDevices of the same apps, music and crucially user experience.
I've found this quite useful, dipping in and out ofthe same apps on different iDevices depending on which one is to hand.

Anyone care to comment on what life is like with an iPad + Symbian or iPad + Android smartphone device (or other smartphone)? Do they complement each other in the same way or does it not matter ?

[Update: September 2010] seems iCulture is the word I was looking for ... Link