14 DAY TRIAL // Flickr is introducing a new sharing option called Flickr Twitter Beta, which will allow users to automatically notify their friends via Twitter every time they upload a photo. This only works for email uploads for now but it may be because Flickr is experimenting with the feature before introducing it on a larger scale. They are also adding the possibility to tweet a photo from inside Flickr.
A similar move was made by YouTube yesterday and it seems like Twitter is becoming the favorite way for sharing content. With many services already targeted at sharing photos on Twitter, TwitPic for one, Flickr decided it was time for it to get in the game as well.
The system works with the Oauth protocol and links a user’s Flickr and Twitter accounts together. This way every time a new photo is uploaded through email a message linking to it will be posted in the user's Twitter stream. The process isn't that complicated as it may sound. Flickr’s current system works by giving users a special @photos.flickr.com email address that allows them to email photos directly to their Flickr page. Now, if users also want to tweet the new photo they can add “2twitter” at the end of the email address but before the @ sign.
Another interesting feature the new Flickr Twitter Beta program adds is the possibility to 'blog' photos to Twitter too. Flickr didn't use a special button for this as most services do but instead opted to add Twitter as an option to its “blog this” feature. Clicking the button will redirect you to a page where you can write your tweet, of only 116 characters, and then publish it to Twitter without leaving Flickr. Only 116 characters are left after the photos shortened URL is added but Flickr is using its own shortening service called Flic.kr.