What major obstacles hindered early acceptance of Internet Phone technology by VocalTec Inc.?

Early acceptance of Internet Phone technology by VocalTec Inc. was significantly hindered by the inability to offer products that could compete effectively with existing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). At the time of its introduction, many consumers were already accustomed to the reliability and familiarity of traditional phone services. The critical challenge for VocalTec was to demonstrate that its Internet Phone solution could provide not just comparable quality and reliability, but also added value compared to POTS.

As a technology that represented a new frontier in communication, it was essential that VocalTec convince consumers of the benefits of switching. If potential users did not see a substantial benefit, such as lower costs or enhanced features, they were unlikely to abandon their existing services. This inability to match or exceed the consumer experience provided by POTS delayed widespread acceptance and adoption of their Internet Phone technology, as potential users remained hesitant to make a switch without clear advantages.