Basic questions on iPhone apps. Please help!

Question

Hey I have a few semi-basic questions about iPhone apps. If you know the answers to any of them please respond as it would help me ton. Even if you dont know the exact answer, it'll help me with any input. Trapster is a good example of what im looking for because it uses a map and it receives/sends small amounts of data constantly.
1) How much on average does it cost to hire a group of people to code an app for you. Specifically, how much do you think the app Trapster took to program? Are there any specific other apps you know how much it took to code? I need estimates, because I have nothing. A number like 50,000 would help a ton more other then saying "it depends" .....
2) Apps like Trapster, send and receive small amounts of data all the time? What controls all of this data? Im guessing a server. But what are the server's specs? How many? Price per month?
3) With 3.0 SDK now out, you are now allowed to implement google maps into 3rd party applications. Now I know you cannot use it for turn-by-turn navigation. But can you still use the directions feature already on google maps? Can you still use the search feature to search for a restaurant as well? Or maybe you can just see the map and thats it. Does anyone know exactly what you can use with google maps or know where there is more information? Ive tried everywhere.
4) Just tell me if this is correct: You can add advertisements into your app. On average, for every 1000 times your app gets opened, you get about 1.00-2.00. So if your app gets opened 2,000,000 times you get $2,000 from advertising if you get 1.00/1000. Is that accurate as an average?
5) Since 3.0 now supports push notifications, would you be able to have anything at all running in the backround? For example, on trapster, if you approach a red light camera, the app beeps. With 3.0, if you are on the home screen and approaching the camera, is there a way of getting the iphone to beep even though your just on the iphones main screen or any other screen? Im guessing not because in order to receive the push the iphone needs to know your current location and the location of the camera, which is why the app would need to be running. Incase im wrong is there a way of doing this?
6) If an app is free and does not do advertising, does it make any money? If so how?
Thanks!

Answer 1

>"If an app is free and does not do advertising, does it make any money? If so how?"
Of course.
It's called 'reputation earned'. You negotiate your future based on attention from something (a free app?) that amazes the known world. Could be a book deal after you spend your young/old life crossing the divide - could be a marriage proposal that brings great wealth - could be a cabinet position with a station in a foreign tax haven.
Use your imagination.
As for cost, pull a number out of your hat and then double it...then double it again. Same goes for time, staff and delays.
Ad-ware is so yesterday. Find something more current to scrape off your shoe