Google recently launched Google URL Shortener at goo.gl which shortens long URLs so that they can easily be shared with friends on social networking and micro-blogging sites like Twitter etc.,but to use their service you need to install the Google Toolbar.Here’s are 2 ways in which you can use Goo.gl without installing their 2MB toolbar. How to Shorten any URL Using Google Shortener – Goo.gl
- Add the Goo.gl bookmarklet onto your browsers toolbar.
- While you on the URL you want to shorten, Click on the bookmark and a small window with the shortened URL is displayed.
Source – Marklets
There’s also a Firefox addon that generates the shortened URL using Google URL Shortener Service and automatically copies the Goo.gl Shortened URL onto the clipboard.
Firefox Goo.gl Lite Addon – Google URL Shortener Addon
Like many URL Shorteners Google’s Google Shortener also makes the URL’s with random characters, you can make URL’s with easy to remember slug’s using Decent URL.
there is a php version too
http://marcusnunes.com/api-goo.gl.php