<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 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> (8,591) (8,591) <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 190,846 190,846 <PP&E> 223,164 223,164 <DEPRECIATION> (90,153) (90,153) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 911,854 911,854 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 263,691 263,691 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 469 469 <OTHER-SE> 422,830 422,830 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 911,854 911,854 <SALES> 121,540 327,876 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 121,540 327,876 <CGS> 37,346 101,336 <TOTAL-COSTS> 37,346 101,336 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 93,468 270,825 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (4,520) (9,942) <INCOME-PRETAX> (13,529) (54,145) <INCOME-TAX> (2,300) (9,204) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (11,229) (44,941) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (11,229) (44,941) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.24) (1.03) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.24) (1.03)