At NAB, those stopping by Google's booth will get to see Google Radio Automation, with its three-tier architecture: SQL database, user interface and service layer, where the "brain" of the software lies. With an open API (application programming interface), Google Radio Automation can exchange data with other systems by letting them connect to the playlist engine, inventory engine and notification engine.

SS32 and Maestro don't have an open API and run only on Windows, while Google Radio Automation supports Windows, Mac OS and Linux, Woods said. The existing products will be phased out over the next few years.

Google Radio Automation has split the user interface up into mini-applications called widgets. The widgets can be added, moved or removed from the screen by end-users. Developers can also create custom widgets for their system.

Google Radio Automation also natively supports AdSense for Audio, the program for radio stations that want to become part of the Google radio ad distribution networks. The system also has features for automating the creation and delivery of podcasts, as well as for sharing content among radio stations.

Unlike most other Google software, Radio Automation isn't provided as hosted software. Instead, it ships in a server called MK-14, which has as many as three removable SATA hard drives, hot-swappable power supplies and an Intel chipset that supports Intel Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors.