SHOUTcast is cross-platform proprietary software for streaming media over the Internet.
The SHOUTcast software uses a client–server model, with each component communicating via a network protocol that intermingles audio data with metadata such as song titles and the station name.
It uses HTTP as a transport protocol, although multicast is another option. SHOUTcast servers and clients are available for Microsoft Windows, FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, and Solaris. Client-only versions exist on Palm WebOS (Radio Hibiki), Windows Mobile, Android OS, BlackBerry OS, Palm OS, Series 60, the iPhone and iPad, UIQ the PlayStation Portable,[1] Nintendo DS (DSOrganize) and on the Wii.
The output format is supported by multiple clients, including Nullsoft's own Winamp, Exaile, Totem, Amarok, XMMS, Zinf, Songbird, foobar2000 and Apple iTunes.
SHOUTcast servers are usually linked to by means of playlist files, which are small text files (usually with extensions .pls or .m3u) that contain the URL of the SHOUTcast server. When that URL is visited in a Web browser which identifies itself as Mozilla-compatible (as most do), the server will return a generated SHOUTcast server info/status page, rather than streaming audio.
The most common use of SHOUTcast is for creating or listening to Internet audio broadcasts. Some traditional radio stations use SHOUTcast to extend their presence onto the Web.
