why is the number sign (#) refered to as a pound key (₤)by voice message phone systems?

Answer 1

It's a US naming convention. The modern name for it should be the Number Sign but old habits die hard. Here is Wikipedia's explanation:

"Naming convention within the USA

In the United States, the symbol was traditionally called the pound sign. This derives from a series of abbreviations for pound avoirdupois, which is a unit of mass (although pound is generally used as a unit of weight; for more information, see pound-force and pound (unit of mass)). At first "lb." was used; later, printers got a special font made up of an "lb" with a line through the ascenders so that the "l" would not be mistaken for a "1". Unicode character U+2114 (℔) is called the "LB Bar Symbol," and it is a cursive development of this symbol. Finally came the reduction to two horizontal and two vertical strokes.

Its traditional commercial use in the U.S. was such that when it followed a number, it was to be read as "pounds", as in 5# of sugar, and when it preceded a number, it was to be read as 'number', as in #2 pencil. Thus the same character in a printer's type case had two uses."

Answer 2

In America # is the sign for a pound in weigh. We use the $ for money. As we get to be a more international society we probably need a different name for #.

Answer 3

The key pad was developed in the US where the # symbol is also shorthand for pounds as in weight not the English money.

Answer 4

Maybe in the old days when pushing numbers on the phone was first invented, you had to pound on this key to make it work.

Answer 5

i do no longer worry with incorrect numbers or calls from human beings i do no longer recognize. If it quite is a chilly call or somebody soliciting for some thing, i do no longer choose to inspire them to call returned--and that i optimistic do no longer choose some revenues speech when I call returned. incorrect numbers are incorrect numbers and it quite is not as much as me to straighten them out or locate the the ideal option huge style for the caller. i do no longer might desire to apply up my telephone minutes or regardless of by potential of returning incorrect numbers or calls the place i do no longer additionally recognize the caller. If it quite is significant sufficient, they're going to call returned; if it quite is rather significant, they're going to deliver your a letter or locate some wrong thank you to touch you.

Answer 6

Because it means pounds as in weight, not money. 2.2 # means 2.2 lbs, as in 1 Kilo