My name's Andy and I would like to describe how I'd work on the project if you decided to work with me:
- i'll create a server side administration website, where you will be able to manage subcategories and place listings. There will be an interface to add a place, and it will allow you upload the ad, add a phone number to it, external link etc. This data will be accessible from the iPhone via the API i'll create.
- the iPhone app will work according to the flow on your screenshots, i'll use graphics you provide.
Also, wanted to answer questions you've got in attachment:
1- Exactly, no point in hard coding. It will all be on the server side, edited by the admin (later we can have a separate website with same data, if needed)
2- Yes,that's possible. This can be configured through the server side admin interface.
3- Yes, absolutely. In one of the projects i worked on last week i was using distance calculation functions from the SDK.
4- As far as I know even if you don't have GPS, location still can be determined using several things:wifi hotspots and mobile network towers. That's also possible to let user specify his city in the settings, for example.
5- If GPS signal is low, we can use the previous reading of the signal. But again, even if GPS is low,it can tell you your position with accuracy of around 1km using standard mobile network towers information.
Just to finish my application wanted to let you know I do have a lot of experience in iPhone development along with MapKit SDK. Please, have a look at my profile,you'll see i've been working on various iPhone projects. I'm working on portfolio right now, and would be glad to send it to you in case you find my application interesting. Thanks in advance.