New York, NY – The city is introducing a new iPhone application that will let residents file quality-of-life complaints immediately to the city’s 311 system.

Under an initiative of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the 311 system was designed to make sense of the labyrinth of city agencies by sorting all incoming calls. Questions, complaints, requests for service were all directed through a single phone number. There was also a web site.

But the new application was released to provide a more user-friendly approach, said Paul J. Cosgrave, the city’s information technology commissioner. The application was started after a request was made in March by City Council speaker Christine C. Quinn and Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer.

Other programs for other smart phones will be released by the end of the year.

Whether it is graffiti, a pothole or a noise complaint, the application allows users to use the phone’s G.P.S. technology to locate the offense and photos to support the claim.

(Source: NY Times City Room Blog)