Why Use Audio Streaming?

Streaming Audio is a very useful and flexible way to deliver lots of information in a very efficient manner.  Most people are much more comfortable listening to 2-3 minutes of audio instead of reading 2-3 pages of written text.  The exception would be when someone is in a library, at work or similar environment where audio is not feasible.  That's why audio should always be an option instead of being mandatory.

Audio is much more practical than video for building FAQ pages or for doing pages that require frequent updates.  Services like Audio Generator allow you to even call in over the phone and create content.

Player Options:

The most common audio players are the flash based players that play regular mp3 files.  MP3 files are easy to create and can be played by almost any device so it makes sense that your streaming audio player should play files in this format.  It eliminates an additional encoding or conversion step that you have to go through with Windows Audio or Real Audio. 

 
Audio Demo #3
Audio Drop Down Box

Which type of audio and whether or not you use auto-play are all things that I can help you decide.  Each situation requires it's own unique solution based on the type of web site and the type of user who visits.