Google Releases goo.gl URL Shortener/QR Code Service

The concept of link shorteners is not new. There are numerous sites such as bit.ly and tinyurl.com which provide link shortening services on the web.  Recently internet giant Google has released link shortener goo.gl which offers great speed and in-depth analytics. However, the ingenious brand always brings out new ideas to surprise the web-world. Link shortener goo.gl also provides an option for making a QR Code by simply adding “.qr” at the end of any goo.gl URL. QR codes are ideal for mobile use, and particularly Google has been using them effectively for easy installation of Android apps and more. For instance, Google uses QR codes to highlight “Favorite Places” in search results.

QR Codes are often termed as paper-based hyperlinks. You can simply click a picture of a QR code with your smartphone to get redirected to a site using your mobile phone’s browser. These codes also have digital significance – A QR code can be added to a tweet, or it can also be displayed on a web page to get information directly on a mobile phone. The concept of QR Code is gradually diminishing the distinction between PDAs, digital content, and paper-based communication modes.