Wappwolf, Home To IFTTT-Like Automation Tools, Launches iBeam.it For Sharing Content Across Online Services

Wappwolf, the startup offering IFTTT-like automation tools like Dropbox Automator and Google Drive Automator, is now out with its latest utility called iBeam.it, focused on sharing to multiple service at once. This includes not only online file storage services like Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, Skydrive and others, but also photo-sharing sites like Instagram, Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, and more.

Multi-posting tools have been a longtime staple of the web, ever since users have been inundated with multiple options for sharing their status or hosting files and other media in the cloud. Earlier efforts in this space included the social status updater Ping.fm, acquired by Seesmic in 2010, which, in turn was acquired by HootSuite this September. Meanwhile, newer companies like Dispatch, for example, instead focus on creating online workspaces where users can collaborate across services like Dropbox and Google Drive. IFTTT, mentioned above, lets you automate tasks using triggers in order to take more specific actions, while things like CloudMagic are focused on search. Photo-specific options, like Pixelpipe’s Pi.ipe, also exist.

I’m scratching the surface here, but you get the idea. Not a new idea, really, but clearly a continual need.

With iBeam.it, Wappwolf users now have more of an all-purpose tool for sharing (“beaming”) content between Dropbox, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Flickr, Skydrive, Evernote, Picasa, Twitter and more. As of today, the service only allows a beam’s starting point to one of the first five in that list, however. But the plan is to soon add others like Flickr, Picasa, Evernote, Skydrive as well as Photobucket or Pinterest (the latter when an API becomes available).

After testing iBeam.it with a couple thousand testers, the company is also planning to add more features, like support for hashtags (e.g. #family would send a beam only to family members on various services), as well as tools for converting and modifying the documents and photos being beamed.

Wappwolf co-founder and CEO Michael Eisler provides an example of how beaming could be used, which probably hits home with some early adopters out there: photo-sharing. “I created a beam of ‘my kids in California’ and my whole family is able to subscribe using email, Dropbox, Google Drive, Skydrive and so on,” he says. “Every time we had an exciting weekend, I just drop some new pics to my Dropbox through my iPhone and all followers get a push to their receiving destination with a bunch of new photos.” Yes – email is supported for those who prefer it to online services.

In terms of the iBeam.it user experience, I prefer the interface IFTTT offers (your opinion may vary), but Wappwolf is focused on taking its utility beyond being just a destination site for managing tasks, which is notable. It’s also introducing a “Beam Button” for publishers which would allow site visitors to subscribe to content through whatever means they prefer. The company is already working with talenthouse.com to enable artists to reach out to their fans using this function, for instance. You can also follow pre-configured beams like Instagram’s Photo of the Day directly from iBeam.

iBeam.it Follow

Wappwolf’s Automator products now have 100,000 users, and a bit of revenue from businesses who use the tools for automated multi-sharing and conversions. iBeam.it, as noted above, had 2,000 testers during private beta prior to this week’s launch. You can get started with iBeam.it here.