Redesigned Washington Capitals Browser Theme by Brand Thunder

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The Washington Capitals were Brand Thunder’s first client and we’ll forever be in their debt for taking a chance on a fledgling company with a good idea and execution. Now, almost four years later, we’re still going strong and Caps fans, like us, are enjoying our fourth version of the Washington Capitals browser theme. Plus, it’s now available for Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The best looking Caps browser theme yet features “Classic Blue” and “Rock the Red” themes and you can switch between the two styles. You can get the latest Caps news, features and videos no matter what site you’re on.

Plus, with just a single click, the Capitals themed broswer gets you to the Capitals destinations you need to get to, including:

• Tickets
• Schedule
• Roster
• Caps365
• Caps gear on ShopNHL

You can also get your Caps News fix in the Caps365 Sidebar

• News from the Caps RSS feed
• The most recent videos
• Pictures of the Caps in action
• The official Capitals twitter feed

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get the newest Washington Capitals browser theme.

Posted in News | Tags: browser app, browser application, browser theme, National Hockey League, Washington Capitals | No Comments »

Deja Vu – First Again with Capitals Hockey, This Time in UK by Kevin Dwinnell

Hockey teams seem to be the innovators in the interactive marketing space, especially if the team’s name is the Capitals. At least, that’s been our experience to date.

One of Brand Thunder’s first clients was the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. Now, we’re first again with the Capitals. This time it’s the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Edinburgh Capitals in Scotland. It’s the first entry we’ve had into the sports marketing arena within the UK. You can read the details here or see the product here.

The sports industry has been the most aggressive in adopting our product. That seems natural as they’re businesses are dependent on the ongoing and strong relationship with their existing fan base. They are not solely focused on the trial or new user that so many marketers pursue. Reaching and appealing to new audiences is important, but it’s never at the expense of that vital core.

We’re thrilled to count the Capitals and their fans among our users. Again.

Posted in Commentary, News | Tags: brand thunder, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, edinburgh capitals, eihl, elite ice hockey, Ice hockey, National Hockey League, Scotland, Washington Capitals | No Comments »

Brand Thunder Launches Beta in Preparation to Storm Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Browser Experience by Brand Thunder

COLUMBUS, OH — September 29, 2009– Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com), the custom browser specialists, announced today beta group availability to test the most visually immersive add-on available for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. Fans of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks (http://canucks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=48312) or Washington Capitals (http://capitals.nhl.com/browser) can request access to private beta groups and their opportunity to experience Brand Thunder’s Boom! beyond Firefox.

Brand Thunder creates persistent connections between major brands and their online consumers via the Internet browser. Each browser Boom! delivers a visual takeover of the browser, an integrated toolbar for content and functionality, plus the multimedia sidebar for videos, photos and more. Previously, the Boom! was only available to users of the Firefox browser. With the addition of Internet Explorer, 90% of the browser market will have access to a more custom and personalized Internet experience.

“The customization capabilities we’re adding to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are a pretty big step forward for the users of the IE browser,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Brand Thunder. “And it’s a huge win for our clients who want it as simple as possible to give their fans a stunning web browser.”

Brand Thunder’s browser Booms! are free, lightweight active customizations that can include themes, toolbars, sidebars and other content or functionality. Users can switch real-time between any installed Booms!.

About Brand Thunder:
Formed in April 2007, Brand Thunder creates custom-browser experiences. Brands enjoy a more persistent connection to their Internet consumer through the custom browser Boom!, which increases website visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their Internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or Internet site. The custom browser Booms! feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other Internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact:
Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-304-1316

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Posted in News, Press Releases | Tags: brand thunder, Branded Browser, browser boom, custom browser, firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Mozilla Firefox, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, Web browser | No Comments »

Brand Thunder Ignores Economic Downturn by Tripling Business in Nine Months by Brand Thunder

COLUMBUS, OH — September 16, 2009 — Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com), the custom browser specialists, announced today it has three times the number of clients and custom browser Booms! available to end users compared to December 2008. The visual intensity combined with useful content and functional integration into the browser have proven popular with both clients and end users of the Brand Thunder Booms!.

At the end of 2008, 18 signed clients and 31 browser add-ons resulted in over 500,000 downloads of its browser customizations. In middle of September 2009, the client list has grown to over 60 partners and 83 Booms! in the market with dozens more Booms! in the build process for release in the coming weeks. Downloads are approaching 1.5 million.

The browser customization is delivered through a small download called a Boom! and wraps the user’s web browser in a graphically-rich experience with integrated content and functionality that best serves a brand’s audience. Clients can include videos, streaming music, breaking news, Twitter feeds plus buttons that link to their most popular pages on their sites. The browser becomes a valuable connection between brand and its community and delivers continuous invitations back to the site of the sponsoring brand.

The client list taking advantage of the browser add-on continues to grow and now includes brands in the U.S., Canada and U.K. such as House of Blues, Major League Soccer, teams from the NBA and NFL, newspaper publishers, radio stations, TV affiliates, webcomics and more. This is in addition to companies like Geffen Records, Universal Music Group, Huffington Post, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NHL teams among others.

Additional milestones attesting to Brand Thunder’s growth include increasing strategic channel partners from 7 to 11 and spanning six countries on three continents. Despite a seasonal nature to a majority of product and clients, the active user rate has more than doubled during the first nine months of 2009.

“Our Washington Capitals browser has been a great success,” said Sean Parker, Director of New Media, Washington Capitals. “Over the last two years we have seen a significant increase in our Firefox visitor traffic. I am sure part of this increase is due to our branded browser. Brand thunder has done a great job of integrating Capitals news feeds, Caps365 and customized buttons into the theme, which reinforces our brand to our fans and drives traffic to our site. I am looking forward to seeing the new enhancements Brand Thunder will be adding to our browser for this upcoming season.”

“We help people customize their online experience and make that experience easy, better and more personal,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Brand Thunder. “The result has been a growing and excited fan base, which makes it easier to bring on an amazing list of clients.”

Brand Thunder’s browser Booms! are free, lightweight active customizations that can include themes, toolbars, sidebars and other content or functionality. With a Boom!, users can switch real-time between any of the browser looks they created without restarting their browser.

About Brand Thunder:
Formed in April 2007, Brand Thunder creates custom-browser experiences. Brands enjoy a more persistent connection to their Internet consumer through the custom browser Boom!, which increases website visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their Internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or Internet site. The custom browser Booms! feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other Internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact:
Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-408-8202

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Posted in News, Press Releases | Tags: Branded Browser, brandthunder, browser boom, custom browser, firefox, Major League Soccer, Washington Capitals, Web browser | No Comments »

Brand Thunder Does Some Good Work with Mozilla by Kevin Dwinnell

Brand Thunder is a proud member of the Mozilla community, so you can imagine the honor we felt when they asked us to do work for them.

In its support of the UKs CyberMentors program, Mozilla had Brand Thunder deliver an Add-on featuring a custom theme and an integrated toolbar allowing users quick access to the key content and tools that are core to the CyberMentors program. You can see the work here.

Our branded Firefox experiences are designed to drive interaction and engagement between an organization and its end user. Compelling design plus useful content and functionality can go a long way to achieving that, and it’s something people will adopt in droves. We saw this early in our history when we launched the Washington Capitals and helped double the Firefox usage on their site. You can see the attractiveness to both the organization and the end user.

Now, consider for a moment, CyberMentors is a Beatbullying project. Its goal is to give victims of bullying (or bullies wishing to stop) a place to go and get help from people their own age. CyberMentors is young people helping and supporting each other online. With that kind of role, don’t you want to do everything you can to help? We did too.

We’re grateful to Mozilla for the vote of confidence in our work and for letting us play a part in such a meaningful program.

Posted in Commentary, News | Tags: beatbullying, brand thunder, cybermentors, firefox, Mozilla, Washington Capitals | 3 Comments »

Two Key Reasons an Award Matters to a Start Up – Branded Browser Wins for New Media Communication by Patrick Murphy

We were thrilled to be listed as a finalist for Excellence in New Communications in the 3rd Annual Society of New Communications Research (SNCR) Awards. Now that we’ve actually won, we’re ecstatic. The release issued by SNCR is here and all the winning case studies are at SNCR’s publication site – New Communications Review. You can also read our release or see the winning Washington Capitals browser theme.

1. Reaching Evangelists and Influencers – For young companies with a limited budget, getting the word out can be challenging. Reaching a solid base of the evangelists and influencers in a given market can help that organic growth of promotion overnight. Looking at the people and organizations behind SNCR, who are among the top in the communications field, this was an important audience to reach. Pursuing awards can be expensive and time consuming, but going after those with additional upside can be vital to your growth.

2. Team Morale – So much effort is given toward inward focused efforts. Starting out you have process improvement, product improvement, development, infrastructure, scalability – all the steps necessary to keep pace with a growing company. For this moment, you can raise your head and see that your peers and industry are acknowledging that intense effort. It’s a real boost.

All around, this is an important event for our company and we’re honored.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: Branded Browser, New Media, SNCR, Washington Capitals | No Comments »

Brand Thunder a Finalist in Excellence in New Communications Award for the NHL’s Washington Capitals Custom Browser Theme by Brand Thunder

For Immediate Release

COLUMBUS OH (October 22, 2008) — Brand Thunder LLC, the browser customization specialists, announced today it is among the finalists in the Society for New Communications Research 3rd Annual Excellence in New Communications Awards.

The awards program honors the work of corporations, governmental and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, media outlets and individuals who are innovating the use of social media, ICT, mobile media, online communities and virtual worlds and collaborative technologies in the areas of business, media, and professional communications, including advertising, marketing, public relations and corporate communications, as well as entertainment, education, politics, and social initiatives.

The Society for New Communications Research, a nonprofit think tank focused on the latest developments in new media and communications, has entrants submit case studies detailing their initiatives and technologies. The winning case studies are published on New Communications Review and the winners will be honored at the 2008 Society for New Communications Research Symposium & Awards Gala, which will be held November 14 in Cambridge, Mass.

“The NHL’s Washington Capitals were one of the first major brands to test a custom browser theme and the connection it can make with fans. We were always pleased with the results,” says founder Patrick Murphy. “Now, to have that work acknowledged by such a prestigious organization is outstanding.”

About Brand Thunder

Formed in April, 2007, Brand Thunder creates a more persistent presence between corporate brands and their internet consumer through its browser customization which leads to increased web site visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or internet site. The customized browsers feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the The Huffington Post, NCAA, NHL, Starpulse.com, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact

Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-408-8202

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Posted in Press Releases | Tags: award, Branded Browser, business, custom browser, Washington Capitals | No Comments »

Washington Capitals and Brand Thunder Unveil First Pro Sports Theme Browser by Brand Thunder

For Immediate Release

COLUMBUS OH (April 15, 2007) — Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com) announces the first use of its innovative browser tool in the National Hockey League via their client, The Washington Capitals.

The Washington Capitals are now the first professional sports team with a customized web browser (http://www.washingtoncapitals.com). “Brand Thunder’s customized theme helps our fans show their love of the Caps while keeping them informed about the latest Caps news,” says Sean Parker, the Capitals’ Director of New Media. “We are extremely pleased to be the first professional sports team to have a customized browser.”

With a customized web browser theme, marketers can keep the attention of consumers, even as they navigate away from your page. “In a web marketplace where users expect personalization, our unique themes facilitate that and something far more valuable: a persistent channel of communication from businesses to consumers,” explains Patrick Murphy, CEO of Brand Thunder. “We integrate the brand into the browser, so businesses extend their reach regardless of where their customers wander on the internet.”

Nearly every aspect of the browser can be customized. For example, after installing the Capitals’ custom theme on the popular Firefox browser, the otherwise generic browser is transformed into a branded arena that puts fans right in the game. Team colors flood the screen and browser navigation features are transformed with familiar hockey elements. Directly beneath are permanent links to the Capitals’ season schedule, team roster and ticket sales page. In addition to driving traffic to the Capitals’ website, the browser theme also includes a real-time ticker so fans can stay on top of the latest team news. Such a display seamlessly integrates the traditional use of a web browser with revenue generating links and tools.

The advantages of a themed browser are manifold. “It extends the brand using a fresh, innovative and effective channel,” says CEO Patrick Murphy. “Themes offer passionate users another avenue to display their affinity while facilitating more frequent and focused communication to consumers.”

About Brand Thunder

Formed in April, 2007, Brand Thunder creates a more persistent presence between corporate brands and their internet consumer through its browser customization which leads to increased web site visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or internet site. The customized browsers feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the The Huffington Post, NCAA, NHL, Starpulse.com, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Contact

Patrick Murphy, CEO
Brand Thunder, LLC
614-408-8202

###

Posted in Press Releases | Tags: custom browser, Washington Capitals | No Comments »