Google launches URL shortener

Google has added a link shortening feature to its toolbar, which will compete with similar services such as Tiny.cc and Bit.ly.

Google URL Shortener appears on updated versions of the Google Toolbar and FeedBurner and is aimed at users of micro-blogging services such as Twitter, who have a limited amoung of space to share links. The service, like its competitors, compresses a link to take up fewer characters.

“We think people who use the Google Toolbar and FeedBurner will benefit from a shortener that is easily accessible — making it faster and easier to share, post and email links,” three of the firm’s software engineers in an official blog.

However, the disadvantage of Google URL Shortener is that it isn’t a standalone, web-based service, like Bit.ly or Tiny.cc, so involves installing additional Google products on the user’s computer.