The world of URL shorteners continues to expand as more people use Twitter and Twitter-like services. After all, with 140 characters to play with, you can’t have a full-fledged URL in a Tweet. With that, Google (goo.gl, natch), Facebook (fb.me) and bit.ly (new Pro service) have all made announcements this week.
Google’s URL shortening service should surprise no one, as Google wants to be all things Internet to all people, so why not a shortener, right? Google’s service isn’t standalone, however. You use it through Google Toolbar and Feedburner.
In Google Toolbar, you use the Share icon on the Toolbar to share a link through Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc., etc. With Feedburner, go to the Socialize service on FeedBurner’s Publicize tab and add the Twitter account to which you would like to post items from your feed. That will automatically use the goo.gl URL shortener.
Facebook’s URL shortener, fb.me, was rolled out sans publicity, on Monday. Any link you share using a mobile Facebook client will shorten a URL with fb.me. fb.me URLs will also be used for an status updates published from Facebook to Twitter.
Finally, there’s bit.ly’s new Pro service. It provides custom shortened URLs for those using by bit.ly. The program is in beta now, and as such bit.ly has provided a limited number of large and medium-sized partners access, including AOL, Associated Content, Bing, Clicker, The Daily Telegraph, foursquare, GDGT, Hot Potato, The Huffington Post, IGN, kickstarter, Meebo, MSN, /Message (Stowe Boyd), MTV Networks, The New York Times, OMGPOP, oneforty.com, The Onion, slideshare, someecards, Stocktwits, TechCrunch, The Wall Street Journal Digital Network, and blogger Baratunde Thurston (baratunde.com).
You can also apply for bit.ly Pro. While currently free, it’s unclear if it will remain free. If you are a publisher or a blogger, you can fill out this form here, and apply.