Question to all.
Is the iPad (and all tablets) really considered a mobile phone?
Rambling Thoughts.
You don't need a custom site for a tablet. BUT your site needs to be "fat finger" friendly (aka tablet user friendly).
If you send your tablet user to your mobile site, are they getting the FULL experience? Ask yourself, from the tablet users perspective, which experience is superior? Desktop site or mobile site?
Mobile is omnipresent (mobile is in almost every pocket all over the usa)
Tablets are not physically attached to the user like a mobile phone is. IMO, They are more laptop like than mobile phone like.
My Summary:
IMO, iPad use is "mobile" but it's not "mobile-personal". The sheer size of the tablet keeps it OUT of the pocket and the tablet's larger display allows for a far larger site than the mobile site.
IMO, the "mobile-personal" connection you have with your shopper may be your most important connection. This mobile-personal-shopper is deeply committed to a purchase and your inventory makes them drool. If ever there was a window into shopping's 11th hour your mobile site is it.
I'd like to do some clicktale research and compare the shopping trails left by my desktop users vs my mobile users.
Am I off on this?