Founded in 1999 in Austin, Texas, United Devices began with volunteer computing expertise from distributed.net[2] and SETI@home, although only a few of the original technical staff from those organizations remained through the years.

[3] Later in 2002 with help from UD, NTT Data launched a similar Internet-based Cell Computing project targeting Japanese users.

[9][10] Partly in response to the market shifts and reorganization, grid.org was shut down on April 27, 2007, after completing its mission to "demonstrate the viability and benefits of large-scale Internet-based grid computing".

[13] On June 26, 2008, United Devices client software on World Community Grid finished its role and completely relayed to BOINC's.

On April 27, 2007, United Devices closed down grid.org and the Cancer Research Project with the announcement that it "has completed its mission to demonstrate the viability and benefits of large-scale Internet-based grid computing.