<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF 3-28-99, AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE FIFTY-TWO WEEKS ENDED 3-28-99, OF AMERILINK CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000924774 <NAME> AMERILINK CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-28-1999 <PERIOD-START> MAR-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-28-1999 <CASH> 5,959 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 12,321 <ALLOWANCES> 237 <INVENTORY> 2,100 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 26,573 <PP&E> 6,367<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0<F1> <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,351 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,600 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,873 <OTHER-SE> 7,878 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,351 <SALES> 65,211 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,211 <CGS> 39,512 <TOTAL-COSTS> 63,575 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 116 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,100 <INCOME-TAX> 877 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,223 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,223 <EPS-BASIC> 0.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.28 <FN> <F1>PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT IS REPORTED NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION ON THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET </FN>