Goo.gl the URL shortening service from Google that was launched in September 2010 has taken the next step to expand by introducing an API to integrate goo.gl into applications and web pages.

The new Goo.gl URL shortening API allows third party applications to easily shorten and expand URL’s as well as retrieve analytic data and URL history about the shortened URL’s.

Ben D’Angelo said in a blog post announcing the API: ”We’re very excited to be able to offer you this API to access one of the fastest URL shorteners out there. We’re continuing to work on several usability improvements and to make our auto-detection of spammy or malicious content even more robust.”

If you are interested in making use of the new Goo.gl URL shortening service in your applications or site check out the goo.gl API documentation.

URL shortening is becoming more and more popular with the use of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Bit.ly is currently the most popular URL shortening service being used on social networking sites, especially on Twitter where posts are limited to 140 characters.

Google and Facebook has now come to the party with their own URL shortening services. Facebook launched fb.me thats already in use for mobile and page link sharing, while Google has launched Goo.gl the official Google URL shortening service.

In a short announcement, the tech giant revealed that the Google Toolbar and the FeedBurner syndication service now utilize Goo.gl for link sharing.

The company also made sure to preach the strengths of its URL shortener and why it should be chosen above others. Google’s three key talking points are stability, security, and speed. These are no surprise

Facebook and Google are trusted brands with huge audiences and very good short URL domains. This may just mark the beginning of a new battle for the URL shortening market.