'Net Features : URL Shortening

Twitter's T.CO and the Future of URL Shortening

Pete Prestipino — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:38:00 GMT

Twitter dropped a bomb on real-time search proponents and social media users today in an understated, Twitter-typical "later this summer" announcement that is immensely important to the future of URL shortening and the company itself.

The real-time platform has been routing links within Direct Messages through its own link shortening service to detect, intercept and prevent "the spread of malware, phishing, and other dangers" but they were previously wrapped with a twt.tl URL. Security is helpful and all but Twitter clearly has more reasons than one to own the URL shortening space entirely.

When the service launches for all tweets more broadly this summer, users will have a way to automatically shorten URLs when posted directly through Twitter. What is important is that routing links through their own system will eventually contribute to the metrics behind Twitter's Promoted Tweets Platform.

The real-time Web just got a lot more competitive with the introduction of Twitters T.CO and the future of competing URL shortening services could be in serious jeopardy. If you are using a URL shortener you will be able to continue using it, but Twitter plans to wrap the shortened links you submit.

Developers who create applications on the Twitter platform get first crack at the service. They will be able to choose how to display the wrapped links in a manner that is "most useful, informative, and appropriate for a given device or application," according to Twitter.

bit.ly Pro Going Self-Service (Open Beta)

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:49:00 GMT

URL shortening service bit.ly announced last week that since the launch of its Pro-level service, the demand has been so high that they will soon be releasing a self-service website for companies interesting in setting up their own Bit.ly-esque service.

The bit.ly Pro service has two tiers – a free version and an enterprise edition.

Users of the free Pro service will have access to a white label version of bit.ly for a custom short URL (with up to 10,000 shorten requests a day), an analytics dashboard, and finally can use/promote their own bit.ly button, so users can share content on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook using a custom short URL.

The enterprise edition of bit.ly provides all the same features as the free service, and additional dashboard features, including additional analytics, third-party application support, and end-to-end branding, as well as a customer service and support plan.

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Bizy.Be: URL Shortener with Analytics

MaureenA — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:30:00 GMT

VisiStat, a website analytics company specializing in website management announced its URL shortening service, Bizy.be. While there are many URL shorteners already out there for use, the news of Bizy Bee is intriguing because it’s powered by VisiStat.

With the growing use of Twitter and reliance on URL shorteners, being able to track data related to the shortened URLs is pertinent. Shortened URLs are even moving into other areas beyond Twitter such as blog posts, articles and anywhere publishers want to provide easier URLs for their readers.

Shrinking a URL on Bizy.be is free and doesn’t require registration. If you want analytics reporting, you will need to register which is also free.