PITTSBURGH -- Users of the iPhone know applications are available for everything from tuning a musical instrument to firming up household finances.

Now Pittsburghers can download an 'app' that might help improve city streets.

In March of this year, the city introduced pittsburghpothole.com for people to report problems on their roads. The Web site promises to address pothole complaints within five working days.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl reminded people that they can also call 311 to get potholes fixed. Non-city residents can call 412-255-CITY.

But the new app for the iPhone will allow users to take a picture of a pothole, or other concern, and submit the complaint and exact location to the city's 311 system.

Pittsburgh City Council member Bill Peduto, along with YinzCam Inc. announced the new app on Monday morning.

Peduto said the program makes Pittsburgh the nation's first large city to implement a government integrated iPhone app.

"This type of technology that merges social media with democracy is going to boom within the next year. Pittsburgh should be the home of this e-democracy innovation," Peduto said.

"This is the city for me. And we really wanted to have all this kind of information in citizens' hands and to grow it from here and give something back to the city," said Priya Narasimhan, the president of YinzCam and part of the electrical engineering department at Carnegie Mellon University.

According to a news release from Peduto's officer, the tool can also be used to report issues like needed snow removal.

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