It’s a problem almost every Londoner has faced – not being able to find a black cab. However, a solution has arrived which over 700 London cabbies have embraced.

Cabbies today launched their first iPhone application which lets you hail a taxi electronically from a mobile phone.

The LDNtaxi app, which runs on Apple’s iPhone, automatically calculates your position when you hail a cab and input your destination.

It then looks for black cabs nearby and alerts drivers to a customer. Whichever accepts the fare first sees the passenger’s location and a picture of them. The customer is alerted and the picture ensures the cabbie picks up the right fare.

“We wanted to bring black cabs up to date,” said Warren Cresdee, who has been a cabbie for 35 years. “We think this will make things easier and safer for both passengers and drivers, and also help us get rid of our down time.

“The response has been amazing. Drivers have been really impressed with the potential for this, and we hope thousands will sign up.” Three hundred drivers have already signed up to the service. Each has an iPhone in their cab and uploads a picture of themselves, which is shown to customers when they book.

At the moment the app if free, although Mr Cresdee said the firm may start charging in the future.

The app also shows how many black cabs are within two miles of the user, letting them see how likely it is a cab will be available. Mr Cresdee said: “In some areas of London it’s just impossible to find a cab, so using the app you’ll know before leaving the front door that one is on its way.”

However, the black cab app will face stiff competition. Addison Lee recently announced its iPhone app has taken more than £20 million in bookings in the past 12 months, and now makes up more than 10 per cent of all bookings.

The minicab industry has also entered the market, with Cabubble.co.uk and Kabbee both launching, aiming to make it easier to find a car.

Cabbies are adamant, however, that they will, as always, have the last word.

Our passenger hails an easy ride

Emer Martin

Hailing a taxi always looks so easy on the TV but in real life it can be a very different story.

I have known drivers shoot past my limp arm only to stop for someone hailing more confidently a few feet further on.

LDNtaxi takes waving arms out of the process. The app allowed me to see the free taxis in the area and I hailed mine with little more than a lady-like tap of the thumb.

I received all the details of the taxi on its way to me, including the name of my driver, and I could track his progress from the moment he accepted my request.

I was also treated to a photo of him, and as I had uploaded my photo, by the time he arrived we were delighted to see each other.

I felt safer and more important all at once, a great combination. It was all-round a very satisfying experience.