<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements of Premiere Technologies, Inc. for the period ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 35,314 35,314 <SECURITIES> 30,171 30,171 <RECEIVABLES> 69,908 69,908 <ALLOWANCES> 7,625 7,625 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 184,719 184,719 <PP&E> 218,827 218,827 <DEPRECIATION> 90,153 90,153 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 585,874 585,874 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 262,793 262,793 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 458 458 <OTHER-SE> 268,251 268,251 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 585,874 585,874 <SALES> 121,540 362,001 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 121,540 362,001 <CGS> 37,346 114,001 <TOTAL-COSTS> 37,346 114,001 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 76,521 250,536 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,380 15,775 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,619 (13,240) <INCOME-TAX> 1,484 (409) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,135 (12,831) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,135 (12,831) <EPS-PRIMARY> .05 (.28) <EPS-DILUTED> .05 (.28)