Internet radio - technical definition

Listening to audio broadcasts via the Internet. There are more than 10,000 broadcasts available on the Internet that can be streamed and played by a software media player in the computer or in a stand-alone Internet radio with the software built in. The broadcasts come from myriad organizations as well as traditional radio stations. If an Internet radio has built-in connectivity to a home wireless network, it is often called a "Wi-Fi radio."

Live or Canned
Internet radio may be streamed in real time along with regular AM and FM over-the-air broadcasts, or it may be a recording of a previous broadcast. In the latter case, the broadcast can be streamed at any point from the beginning. See media player, RealAudio and Windows Media formats.