G-cluster uses IPTV set-top-boxes and the target audience is gamers that already have gaming consoles, as well as the entire family, with a game selection consisting of casual games as well as high end titles.

G-cluster business model was introduced in an article "Developing Cloud Business Models: A Case Study on Cloud Gaming" of the IEEE Software Magazine July/August 2011 issue

Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming, also called gaming on demand, is a type of online gaming that allows direct and on-demand streaming of games onto a computer, similar to video on demand, through the use of a thin client, in which the actual game is stored on the operator's or game company's server and is streamed...

 as a gaming-on-demand technology was originally implemented in Finland by a company called G-cluster, founded in 2000 and a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank

SoftBank

is a Japanese telecommunications and internet corporation, with operations in broadband, fixed-line telecommunications, e-Commerce, Internet, broadmedia, technology services, finance, media and marketing, and other businesses....

 since 2004. The first commercial roll out of the service was for Cyprus Telecom Authority in 2005 on their IPTV

IPTV

Internet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...

 network. In March 2008 G-cluster announced HD support in their solution in with Amino IPTV STB. In November 2010, after thorough beta testing, French operator SFR

SFR

SFR is a French mobile phone company. It has over 20 million customers, and provides over 4.6 million households with high-speed internet access...

launched a commercial service based on G-cluster technology.