Frustrated by Apple's rejection of his iPad app, Seattle developer Ram Arumugam e-mailed Chief Executive Steve Jobs. Two hours later, he picked up a phone call and heard: "Ram, this is Steve." Jobs was on the other end.

The two talked about Arumugam's app, called "Economy for iPad," and why it was rejected by Apple.

Arumugan had included non-public code, also known as a private application programming interface (API), in the app which Apple does not allow. Arumugam said he had used the private API to work around a problem with the on-screen keyboard, which Arumugam was having trouble removing from the screen after the user was done typing.

Apple rejected the app. Arumugam sent an appeal to the app-review board at Apple, and e-mailed Jobs on Oct. 26. He did not expect Jobs to call. "I was very surprised," he said. "I was not even sure whether he would have time to read the e-mail."

Arumugam said after talking to Jobs he removed the non-public code, and the app has since been accepted to the iPad marketplace. His app, which tracks U.S. and state economic statistics such as GDP, unemployment and housing stats, is now the No. 1 selling paid app in the iPad store's finance category, he said.

"Steve himself I would say is a very conscientious guy, and a very hands-on executor," he said. "Very few people CEOs would take the trouble of reading e-mails and actually calling a developer."

Arumugam was previously a principal development manager at Microsoft who left in 2007 to start Cascade Software where he is now CEO. The company has developed seven civic-oriented apps for the iPhone and iPad, three of which have topped the app sales charts in their categories. One app tracked the presidential race in 2008. Another details how the government spends tax dollars.

Here is Arumagan's blog retelling the encounter.