URL shorteners are known to reduce the length of Weblinks into just a few characters. There are especially useful when there is need to maximise text due to limitations in the number of characters allowed for example, in Twitter (140 chars) or text messaging. Since the advent of Twitter, URL shorteners such as Bit.ly and TinyURL have been on the increase.
It now appears that Google does not want to be left behind and has therefore decided to make its URL shortener Goo.gl, which was originally a way for Google to abbreviate its Web addresses within its own services such as Google News and Google Maps, available to the public through its Website – http://goo.gl.
With the now public Goo.gl, users will be able to abbreviate links and store them for later or in order to share with others. Google says it is aware of potential misleading Weblinks and will be using its resources to prevent blind links from sending users to malicious Websites.
Talking Point
Do you use URL Shorteners? What will Google benefit by making its Goo.gl available to the public particular when there are already more established link abbreviators on the Internet?