Club iT and Alcatel Bring G-cluster Gaming-on-Demand to Cyprus Telecommunications Authority Interactive TV Service as Part of Alcatel's Open Media Platform
HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2005--Club iT and Alcatel today announce G-cluster Gaming-on-Demand on CYTA's miVision, an Interactive IPTV service. G-cluster technology is distributed by Club iT Corporation, a subsidiary of SOFTBANK Broadmedia Corporation.
The G-cluster solution is fully integrated with Alcatel's Open Media Platform (OMP), the leading IPTV middleware suite. Alcatel, acting as reseller and system integrator, has been leading the drive to establish G-cluster technology as the next generation gaming platform for broadband networks.
As part of miVision service, which is powered by Alcatel's OMP, customers will be able to play the latest console and PC games on their set-top boxes (STBs). The G-cluster solution ensures that there is no need for hardware upgrades to existing miVision customer premise equipment.
When a customer selects a game title, the game software will be executed in one of 6 miVision server centers. G-cluster servers stream the video and sound output to the STB. User input (jump, move left, fire, etc) is sent from the STB to the appropriate server centre. Players can use remote controls, keyboards, or USB game pads connected to the STB as input devices.
"G-cluster elegantly leverages the power of a broadband infrastructure for advanced gaming applications towards mainstream set-top boxes," said Ivan Verbesselt, Vice President of Alcatel's fixed solutions activities. "This commercial deployment which is seamlessly integrated with the Alcatel solution will bring customers new and exciting gaming opportunities".
"With miVision, CYTA and Alcatel have set a new standard for DSL TV. We are thrilled to have been selected for this project" said Taro Hashimoto, CEO of SOFTBANK Broadmedia Corporation and Club iT.
"By adding G-cluster gaming to TV and video on demand in miVision's subscriber offering, we will reduce acquisition cost and churn as well as open a new revenue stream", said Mr. Nicos Timotheou, General Manager of CYTA.
About G-cluster
G-cluster offers gaming-on-demand for broadband networks. A dedicated grid of game servers, enables the latest video games to be played on-demand with any broadband-connected device, including existing digital cable and IPTV set-top boxes, entry level PCs, and 3G mobile phones.
In the case of digital cable and IPTV deployments, G-cluster Gaming-on-Demand allows network operators and MSOs to leverage investment already made in video on demand infrastructure. There is no need for upgrades to customer premise equipment.
All existing and future game titles can be brought to the G-cluster platform with minimal porting work. The server-centric nature of the system is particularly well suited to multiplayer and other community-building games.
G-cluster is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOFTBANK Broadmedia Corporation ("SBBM", www.broadmedia.co.jp). The G-cluster business is operated worldwide through Club iT Corporation (Osaka New Market: 4347, www.clubit.co.jp), another subsidiary of SBBM. For more information, go to http://www.g-cluster.com or email contact@g-cluster.com / gcluster@softbank.co.jp
About CYTA
CYTA, the incumbent telecommunications organisation in Cyprus, provides a variety of advanced communications services, covering the whole spectrum of customer needs for voice and data communications over fixed and mobile networks. Besides the traditional services offered by a network provider, CYTA seeks to maintain its leading position in the provisioning of value-added converged services as well, such as various IP-based multimedia applications, intelligent content delivery and triple play, which promise to be a dominant business activity in the next decade. CYTA, as a telecommunications hub in the area, also offers a range of satellite services, an extensive submarine optical cable network, transit services for telephony and data, as well as connection services to the Internet for ISPs.
More information can be found at www.cyta.com.cy
CONTACT:
G-cluster
Toby Lynas, +44 7876 561 724