Google closes goo.gl. Firebase Dynamic Links Replaces
Starting March 30, 2018, we are no longer supporting goo.gl URL shortening. Starting April 13, 2018, only existing users will be able to create short links in the goo.gl console. You will be able to view analytics and download information about a short link in CSV format for up to one year, until March 30, 2019, when we completely stop goo.gl. Previously created links will continue to redirect to their destination.
We launchedGoogle URL Shortener back in 2009 to help people more easily share links and measure online traffic. Since then, there have been many popular URL shortening services, and the ways people find content on the Internet have changed dramatically, from desktop web pages to applications, mobile devices, home assistants, etc.
To reorient our efforts, we are giving up goo.gl support in the coming weeks and are replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). FDLs are smart URLs that let you send existing and potential users to anywhere in iOS, Android, or a web application. We are pleased to see future product growth and improvement. Although most goo.gl functions will eventually close,all existing links will continue to redirect to the intended destination.
For users
Starting April 13, 2018, anonymous users and users who have never created short links until today will not be able to create new short links through the goo.gl console . If you want to create new short links, we recommend using Firebase Dynamic Links or using popular services such as Bitly and Ow.ly as an alternative.
If you have goo.gl short links, you can continue to use all the functions of the goo.gl console for one year, until March 30, 2019 , after which we will close the console. You can manage all of your short links and their analytics through the goo.gl console during this period.
After March 30, 2019, all links will continue to redirect to the designated location. Your existing short links will not be migrated to the Firebase console , however you can export your link information from the goo.gl console in CSV format.
For developers
Starting May 30, 2018, only projects that have accessed the Shortener API Shortener URLs to this day can create short links. To create new short links, we recommend the FDL APIs. Short FDL links automatically detect the user's platform and send the user either to the Internet or to your application, if necessary.
If you already use URL Shortener APIs to manage goo.gl direct links, you can continue to use them for one year until March 30, 2019 , when we stop using the API.
As for consumers,All links will continue to redirect to your intended destination after March 30, 2019. However, existing short links will not be migrated to the Firebase console / API.
URL Shortener was a great tool and we are proud to have created it. As we look to the future, we focus on the capabilities of Firebase Dynamic Links, especially when it comes to dynamic platform discovery and links that go out of the application installation process. We hope you too!
via developers.googleblog.com