I hope this signals a shift in the manufacturers away from the megapixel race to perfecting the MP counts already there.
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Given that the 1D MkIII sensor both reduces noise levels and increases resolution by decreasing photosite size, I would instead hope (and expect) that it signals a continuation of the trend to improve both resolution and visible noise levels, not some totally lop-sized obsession with noise levels at high ISO as the most important measure of a camera's virtue.
Surely it is clear that a lot of high end photography has a significant need for more than 10MP, and that for many photographic situations, higher resolution is more important than the extremes of high speed, low-light ISO performance. 10MP does not meet the resolution needs that lead many photographers to often choose high resolution, low speed, low dynamic range films like Velvia.
Indeed, given the need in this sport/PJ oriented camera for high frame rates and the ability to achieve high shutter speeds in sometimes limited light, it is to be expected that its design will lean toward fewer, larger photosites than in most other cameras. This has been a consistent distinction of all three 1D series sensors. It seems clear to me that upgrades to high end models (not to mention some of this year's new advanced amateur models) will to offer increased resolution, to beyond 10MP and even perhaps beyond 20MP, as a major selling point.
My predictions for later this year include 12MP or more with quite good noise levels at up to ISO 1600 in advanced amateur "APS-C" format DSLRs at under US$2,000. In particular, in a Sony CMOS sensor evolving from its now almost three year old D2X sensor. Probably from Canon too, but as usual Canon gives away fewer hints of its plans. And this will soon enough push the resolution asked of entry-level 35mm format DSLR's beyond the 5D's 12.7MP.
