Shazam has acquired synchronized lyric technology from Tunezee, and is launching a new feature called “LyricPlay.”

This feature in the Encore premium App lets Shazam users see lyrics as they are synchronized with the songs they are listening to, according to a company statement.

It works wherever the users are located. It also works automatically.

The feature is free of charge within the Shazam Encore and Shazam Red Apps for iPhone and iPod touch. It is available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Here’s how it works.

Users tag a song they like. They tap the LyricPlay icon. The device gets turned horizontally. Users watch the lyrics. To stop LyricPlay, users tap to return to the Tag result for the song.

“It’s pretty much like karaoke, the app will display and animate (scroll, jump or slide) the lyrics of the song you’re listening to for you to sing along,” explains a review from Gizmodo.

“We believe Shazam LyricPlay is a world’s first and significantly enhances the magical experience Shazamers love,” Andrew Fisher, Shazam’s CEO, said in a company statement.

The deal represents Shazam’s first corporate acquisition.

“Shazam leads the marketplace for mobile discovery and we constantly strive to develop even greater consumer experiences,” Fisher said. “We are committed to make the necessary investments to build or acquire innovative technology in order to enhance these experiences as we continue to innovate and enhance the world’s leading mobile discovery service.”

In addition, Shazam has also launched a database of lyrics. The company has a library of over 25,000 songs. The number continues to grow.

In other recent company news, Shazam released ‘Shazam Friends’ for iOS and Android operating systems, according to a report from TechZone360.

Shazam Friends is a real-time feed of songs that Facebook friends have tagged, the company said. It creates a continual list for users of Shazam.

New Shazam users can download the premium Encore App for $3.99 for a 1-year subscription or a one-time fee of $5.99 on iOS.

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Ed Silverstein is a TechZone360 contributor. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell