Google’s URL shortener; goo.gl was introduced back in 2009 and today the company has announced that it is shutting down the services and is replacing it with Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL). FDLs are smart URLs that can send existing and potential users to any location within an iOS, Android or web app.
Users who have never created short links before today will not be able to create new short links via the goo.gl console. Google will allow you to create new short links Firebase Dynamic Links or other alternatives like Bitly and Ow.ly. Google mentioned that all the existing goo.gl links will continue to redirect to the intended destination and users can manage them via the goo.gl console for the next year; until March 30th, 2019.
Post the one-year deadline, all the links will still work, but you won’t be able to access the console itself. The existing short links will not be migrated to the Firebase console, however, you will be able to export your link information from the goo.gl console. Google will also discontinue the APIs on March 30th, 2019.
As for developers, FDL short links will automatically detect the user’s platform and send the user to either the web or your app, whichever is appropriate.