It might seem like a teeny little thing, but we’ve just made it possible to type either “smub.it/” or “smub.com” to the left of the http:// of any URL on your iPhone in order to save or share a link. That allows you to take advantage of the iPhone’s .com text string when you’re typing in a browser window.

More improvements are coming! Spread the word. Share a Smub!

In an effort to help iPhone users post really really short links to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, Reddit, and more, we’ve reconfigured our URL structure. Now, when you simply want to post a link, you’ll get a randomly generated Smub, like this:

Smub

These shorter URLs are meant to help with Twitter posts, especially. If you choose to bookmark, or save, a Smub, it’ll continue to pull a short string of characters to help you remember the bookmark.

Of course, if you want to name your URLs, simply sign up for a Smub account, and you can name every link you save or share!

We wanted to give you the flexibility of choice. Let us know what you think!

Smub users are now experiencing a brand new interface when they type smub.it/ to the left of the http:// in their browsers, and they love it. I’ve heard, “wow, that’s cool…” from loyal Smubbers who’ve Smubbed a page since yesterday. Our new version of Smub further enhances the experience our web users have always had - by adding sharing options and making bookmarking even easier.

Smub's New Web Interface

Built for iPhone Bookmarking

The Smub experience now looks a lot like an iPhone, and it’s no wonder. We’re the first to provide iPhone users the capability to bookmark or share any link from an iPhone, finally making mobile bookmarking a reality.

And the Smub experience is seamless from web browswe to the new iPhone interface:

Smub on the iPhone

In research we completed earlier this winter, we found that iPhone users are interested in, and frustrated by, sharing - or just plain saving - links from their iPhones. So we’ve answered those needs with our new capabilities in this release.

Counting click-thru’s, using the Smub Toolbar, creating branded URLs and more are still features we support in the new Smub. We’ll look forward to exploring those capabilities with you in the coming weeks and months!

Meanwhile, check out the brand new world Smub is opening to iPhone users… The best part? Smub remains free to register and use.

Recent research findings by eROI, our friends in Portland, found that most kids get their first personal email address at about age 13. About 25% of them got one primarily so they could shop online. And 82% got one so they could communicate with family, while 52% got one to communicate with friends.

36% of those surveyed said they use email alerts for keeping up on MySpace and Facebook. These emails are an important part of how they interact with the networks they join.

But the study clearly shows that the preferred methodology for communication is texting.

eROI report - text messaging is king

We’re not surprised at this finding. Anyone who knows a kid (or a mom with kids) in college is clearly aware that texting is the usual way of communicating with them. One thing I do hope eROI asks next time is about Wall-to-Wall communications… I know that’s one way my friends chat with me on Facebook.

One of the principles in the development of Smub is to make it incredibly simple to share URLs via text (or SMS), IM, email and the social networks (MySpace and Facebook) that students and a growing number of businesses use.

As students enter the workforce, it’ll be interesting to see exactly how the tools we use will need to adapt to their communications preferences.

I’ve got an iPhone that I use for pretty mundane purposes. I am, though, enjoying it more these days because I seem to be an innate “sharer” and have found Smub to be a perfect tool to help me share information with even my sister, who texts me more than anything… Although Smubs work from IM, SMS or any browser from any Smartphone.

I’m training her to recognize just one word to navigate my personal web, which means that soon I’ll be able to tease her into looking at web sites with a simple voicemail or text.

Making Smub work on my iPhone is a piece of cake. Let’s look at the end result first:

In a text message, the clickable link works from any Smartphone.

To make a Smub from the first place is simple on an iPhone. Here is a series of shots that show you exactly how I make a Smub and share it from any browser window.

1) Type smub.it/ to the left of the http:// in the browser window

Type Smub.it/ to the left of http:// on any Smartphone

2) Your Smub will be made automatically (in this case) once I hit the “Go” on my iPhone (your mileage may vary). From here, I can share it via email, Facebook, MySpace or Twitter automatically.

Share Smubs quickly

3) You can easily go to your account from your smartphone and browse your own Smubs:

Smubs are accessible from any Smartphone