TALK COM
10-Q, 1999-08-13
RADIOTELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1999.
                              ---------------

[ ]      TRANSACTION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to
                               ----------    ---------

Commission file number 0 - 26728

                                  Talk.com Inc.
               --------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Delaware
          -------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   23-2827736
                    ---------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

               12020 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 22091
               ---------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices - Zip code)

         Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 703-391-7500

               ------------------------------------------------------
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed  by  Section  13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the  registrant
was  required  to file such  reports)  and (2) has been  subject to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
                                    Yes X No
                                       ---

                APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                  PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate  by check mark  whether  the  registrant  has filed all  documents  and
reports required to be filed by Section 13, or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 subsequent to the  distribution of securities under a plan confirmed
by a court

                                     Yes   No
                                        ---
- -
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:  Indicate the number of shares outstanding
of each of the issuer's  classes of common stock,  as of the latest  practicable
date.

As of August  13,  1999,  61,291,568  shares of Common  Stock  were  issued  and
outstanding.



<PAGE>



                                  TALK.COM INC.
                                    FORM 10-Q
                                  JUNE 30, 1999

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         Item 1.  Financial Statements


             Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1999
                  and December 31, 1998

             Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six
                  months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

             Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for
                  the six months ended June 30, 1999

             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six
                  months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998

             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


          Item 2.  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
                     and Results of Operations

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

          Signatures



                                       2


<PAGE>



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
           ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE DATA)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               JUNE 30, 1999
                                                                                (UNAUDITED)      DECEMBER 31, 1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                              <C>                   <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                     $37,114               $   3,063
   Marketable securities                                                              --                  89,649
   Accounts  receivable,  trade, net of allowance for uncollectible  accounts
     of $1,342 and $1,669, respectively                                           46,016                  46,587
   Advances to partitions and notes receivable                                       288                   1,870
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                       8,488                   8,600
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                                       91,906                 149,769
Property and equipment, net                                                       56,679                  56,703
Intangibles, net                                                                   1,109                   1,150
Other assets                                                                       6,436                  64,938
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       TOTAL ASSETS                                                             $156,130                $272,560
=====================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES, CONTINGENCIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
CURRENT:
   Margin account indebtedness                                                   $    --                 $49,621
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses:
      Trade and other                                                             33,418                  64,794
      Partitions                                                                   5,293                   4,380
      Other                                                                       17,973                  17,913
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                  56,684                 136,708
Convertible debt                                                                  94,285                 242,387
Deferred revenue                                                                  24,700                  28,400
Other liabilities                                                                     --                   1,850
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                         175,669                 409,345
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingent redemption value of common stock                                       31,941                      --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT):
   Preferred stock, $.01 par value,  5,000,000 shares  authorized;  no shares
     outstanding                                                                      --                      --
   Common stock - $.01 par value,  100,000,000 shares authorized;
     66,934,635  issued                                                              669                     669
   Additional paid-in capital                                                    209,119                 265,325
   Accumulated deficit                                                          (172,860)               (218,229)
   Treasury stock, at cost                                                       (88,408)               (184,550)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)                                      (51,480)               (136,785)
=====================================================================================================================
       TOTAL LIABILITIES, CONTINGENCIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)      $156,130                $272,560
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
                   See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       3

<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR PER SHARE DATA)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               FOR THE THREE MONTHS                   FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                                  ENDED JUNE 30,                        ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                         ----------------------------------  -------------------------------------
                                                              1999                 1998           1999              1998
<S>                                                        <C>                  <C>            <C>                <C>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
SALES                                                      $117,139             $111,098      $227,711           $202,244

COST OF SALES                                                73,418               93,058       148,116            169,638
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROSS PROFIT                                                 43,721               18,040        79,595             32,606

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES                           9,049               10,195        19,188             19,823

PROMOTIONAL, MARKETING AND ADVERTISING
     EXPENSES                                                21,193               37,617        35,791             84,939

SIGNIFICANT OTHER CHARGES (INCOME)                           (1,500)                 277        (2,718)            21,595
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)                                      14,979              (30,049)       27,334            (93,751)

INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET                     (941)               1,004          (962)            (3,810)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES                            14,038              (29,045)       26,372            (97,561)

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                                       --               67,109            --             40,388
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                      14,038              (96,154)       26,372          (137,949)
  EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                                             --                   --        18,997                 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                          $ 14,038            $ (96,154)      $45,369          $(137,949)
==================================================================================================================================

BASIC EPS:

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                    $   0.23            $   (1.49)    $    0.44         $    (2.14)

EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                                               --                    --         0.32                 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                          $   0.23            $   (1.49)    $    0.76         $    (2.14)
==================================================================================================================================

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
OUTSTANDING - BASIC                                          60,422               64,486        59,670             64,320
==================================================================================================================================

DILUTED EPS:

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                    $   0.22             $  (1.49)     $   0.42         $    (2.14)

EXTRAORDINARY GAIN                                               --                    --         0.30                 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                                          $   0.22             $  (1.49)     $   0.72          $   (2.14)
==================================================================================================================================

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON  EQUIVALENT SHARES
     OUTSTANDING - DILUTED                                   63,360               64,486        62,894             64,320
==================================================================================================================================

</TABLE>

                   See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                       4
<PAGE>



             TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
                         STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                     FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                    COMMON STOCK             ADDITIONAL                     TREASURY STOCK
                            ---------------------------       PAID-IN        ACCUMULATED    ----------------
                               SHARES         AMOUNT          CAPITAL          DEFICIT     SHARES        AMOUNT         TOTAL
                            ------------   ------------   --------------   -------------- ---------   ------------   -------------
<S>                           <C>             <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>
 Balance, January 1, 1999     66,935          $669          $265,325        $(218,229)    (12,949)      $(184,550)     $(136,785)
  Net income                      --            --                --           45,369           --              --        45,369
  AOL investment                  --            --            (3,730)               --      4,121          58,730         55,000
  Exercise of common
     stock options                --            --           (19,207)               --      2,590          36,912         17,705
  Acquisition  of  treasury
     stock                        --            --                --                --       (639)         (7,686)        (7,686)
  Issuance of common
     stock for convertible
     debt                         --            --            (1,328)               --        575           8,186          6,858
  Contingent     redemption
     value of common stock        --            --           (31,941)               --          --              --       (31,941)
==================================================================================================================================
Balance, June 30, 1999        66,935         $669           $209,119       $ (172,860)   ( 6,302)       $(88,408)       $(51,480)
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


                    See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
















                                       5

<PAGE>

                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                                                           ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                                    1999              1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------     -----------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>             <C>
  Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income (loss)                                                              $45,369          $(137,949)
    Adjustment to reconcile  net income  (loss) to net cash
       used in operating activities:
    Unrealized loss on securities                                                       --              2,850
    Provision for bad debts                                                           (232)             1,996
    Depreciation and amortization                                                    2,912              2,768
    Vested AOL warrants and amortization of prepaid AOL marketing costs                 --             49,513
    Purchased research and development                                                  --             21,034
    Deferred revenue                                                                (3,700)            (3,700)
    Extraordinary gain                                                             (18,997)                --
    Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets                                         --             40,388
    (Increase) decrease in:
      Accounts receivable, trade                                                       898            (14,943)
      Advances to partitions and notes receivable                                    1,582             14,834
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                        112             (7,918)
      Other assets                                                                   1,676            (38,026)
    Increase (decrease) in:
      Accounts and partition payables and accrued expenses                         (30,497)            13,581
      Other liabilities                                                             (1,850)            (1,587)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------
         Net cash used in operating activities                                      (2,727)           (57,159)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures                                                          (2,846)            (6,836)
      Sale (purchase) of securities, net                                            89,649           (361,157)
      Securities sold short                                                             --            (10,316)
      Due from broker                                                                   --              7,856
      Acquisition of intangibles                                                        --               (285)
      Acquisition of ADS Holdings, Inc.                                                 --            (26,707)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
         Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                        86,803           (397,445)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Repayment of margin account indebtedness                                     (49,621)                --
      Proceeds from margin account indebtedness                                         --            192,892
      Acquisition of convertible debt                                              (65,423)                --
      Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants                                17,705              8,490
      AOL investment                                                                55,000                 --
      Retirement of common stock                                                        --             (1,470)
      Acquisition of treasury stock                                                 (7,686)           (28,890)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
        Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                        (50,025)           171,022
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                            34,051           (283,582)
    Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period                                3,063            316,730
==========================================================================   =================================
   Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period                                    $ 37,114          $ 33,148
==========================================================================   =================================
</TABLE>

                    See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                       6



<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



1. Basic Presentation

     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Talk.com Inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and have been prepared as if the entities had
operated  as a  single  consolidated  group  since  their  respective  dates  of
incorporation. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

     The consolidated  financial statements and related notes thereto as of June
30,  1999 and for the  three and six  months  ended  June 30,  1999 and 1998 are
presented as unaudited but in the opinion of management  include all adjustments
necessary to present fairly the information set forth therein. These adjustments
consist solely of normal  recurring  accruals.  The  consolidated  balance sheet
information  for  December  31,  1998 was  derived  from the  audited  financial
statements  included  in the  Company's  Form 10-K,  as amended.  These  interim
financial  statements  should be read in conjunction with that Form 10-K report.
The interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future
periods.

2. AOL Agreements

     The  Company  has  negotiated  a  number  of  amendments  to its  marketing
agreements  with AOL  based  on the  experience  gained  by the  Company  in the
marketing  and sale of  telecom  services  to AOL  subscribers  during  1998.  A
substantial  amendment to the AOL agreement in January 1999 in which the Company
agreed to fixed  quarterly  payments  ranging from $10 to $15 million during the
exclusivity  period  of  the  agreement  resulted  in:  the  elimination  of the
Company's  obligation  to  make  bounty  and  profit-sharing  payments  to  AOL;
alteration of the terms of the online and offline marketing arrangements between
the Company and AOL;  extension of the term of the AOL agreement,  including the
long  distance  exclusivity  period,  until June 2003,  although AOL can end the
Company's  long  distance  exclusivity  period  on or  after  June  30,  2000 by
foregoing the fixed quarterly  payments  described  above;  elimination of AOL's
rights to receive further common stock warrants based upon customers gained from
the AOL subscriber  base;  AOL's  contribution of up to $4.0 million per quarter
for offline  marketing;  and  establishment  of the framework for the Company to
offer additional services and products to AOL subscribers. The fixed payments to
AOL are being  amortized  based on estimated  benefits  from the AOL  subscriber
base.

     On January 5, 1999, pursuant to an Investment Agreement between AOL and the
Company,  AOL  purchased  a total of  4,121,372  shares of  common  stock of the
Company  for $55.0  million  in cash and the  surrender  of  rights to  purchase
5,076,016  shares of common  stock of the Company  pursuant to various  warrants
held by AOL. AOL agreed to end further vesting under the outstanding performance
warrant and retained vested warrants exercisable for 2,721,984 shares of Company
common  stock.  See  Note  4(a)  for  a  discussion  of  certain   reimbursement
obligations of the Company in favor of AOL.

3. Related Party Transactions

     On January 5, 1999, Mr. Daniel  Borislow,  a founder of the Company and its
Chairman of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer,  resigned as a director and
officer of the Company.  The Company entered into various agreements and engaged
in various  transactions  with Mr. Borislow and certain  entities in which he or
his family had an interest.

     The Company paid $1.0 million to Mr. Borislow, assigned certain automobiles
to him, and  continued  certain of his health and medical  benefits and director
and officer  insurance.  The Company also agreed that,  as long as Mr.  Borislow
owns at least two percent (2%) of the common stock (on a fully  diluted  basis),
Mr.  Borislow and trusts for the benefit of his  children  would be entitled to:
registration  rights with respect to their shares of common stock;  the right to
require the Company to use a portion of the proceeds  from any public or private
sale of debt  securities by the Company  (excluding  borrowings  from commercial
banks or other  financial  institutions)  to repurchase  debt  securities of the
Company owned by Mr. Borislow or the trusts for the benefit of his children (see
Note 4 (b));  and the right to require the Company to use the proceeds  from the
exercise of stock options or share  purchase  rights to repurchase  common stock
owned by Mr. Borislow or the trusts for the benefit of his children. The Company
also agreed that, as long as Mr.  Borislow had such  beneficial  ownership,  the
Company would not, without the prior written consent of Mr. Borislow and subject
to certain exceptions: (a) engage in certain significant corporate transactions,
including the

                                       7

<PAGE>

                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



sale  or  encumbrance  of   substantially   all  of  its  assets,   mergers  and
consolidations  and certain  material  acquisitions,  or, (b) for a period of 18
months from the  agreement  date,  offer or sell any of its capital stock unless
and until Mr. Borislow and the trusts have sold or otherwise disposed of all the
shares of common stock held by him on the agreement  date. In turn, Mr. Borislow
terminated  his  employment  with the Company and agreed not to compete with the
Company for at least one year. Mr. Borislow also agreed to guarantee up to $20.0
million of the  Company's  obligations  in  connection  with the AOL  investment
discussed below.

     On January 5, 1999, the Company  assigned to a trust for the benefit of Mr.
Borislow's  children the Company's  interest in $53,700,000  principal amount of
subordinated notes of Communication TeleSystems International d/b/a WorldxChange
Communications,  which were  included in other assets at December  31, 1998,  in
exchange  for  $62,545,000  aggregate  principal  amount of the  Company's  2002
Convertible  Notes and 2004  Convertible  Notes owned by the trust. The exchange
rate was determined based on the Company's  assessment of the fair values of the
WorldxChange  Notes and of the  Company's  Convertible  Notes given in exchange,
which  assessment  was  supported  by the opinion of an  independent  investment
banking firm as to the fairness to the Company of the consideration received.

     On January 5, 1999,  the Company,  in open market  transactions,  purchased
from two trusts for the benefit of Mr. Borislow's children $65,080,000 aggregate
principal  amount of the Company's 2002  Convertible  Notes and 2004 Convertible
Notes owned by the trusts for $55.4 million in cash.

     On March 18, 1999,  the Company  purchased  from Mr.  Borislow  $11,477,000
aggregate  principal  amount of the Company's 2004  Convertible  Notes for $10.0
million in cash with proceeds from the exercise of stock options pursuant to the
agreements with Mr. Borislow as described above.

     During the three month period ended June 30,  1999,  the Company  purchased
from Mr. Borislow approximately 639,000 shares of common stock for approximately
$7.7 million with proceeds  from the exercise of stock  options  pursuant to the
agreements with Mr. Borislow as described above.

4.   Stockholders' Equity

     (a) Contingent Redemption Value of Common Stock

         On January 5, 1999, pursuant to an Investment Agreement between AOL and
the Company,  AOL acquired 4,121,372 shares of common stock for $55.0 million in
cash and the  surrender  of rights to acquire up to  5,076,016  shares of common
stock  pursuant  to  various  warrants  held  by AOL.  Under  the  terms  of the
Investment  Agreement  with AOL,  the  Company has agreed to  reimburse  AOL for
losses  AOL may  incur on the sale of any of the  4,121,372  shares  during  the
period from June 1, 1999 through  September 30, 2000.  The Company has the first
right to  purchase  any of the  4,121,372  shares of common  stock at the market
value on the day that AOL  notifies  the Company of their  intent to sell any of
the  shares  plus an  amount,  if any,  equal  to the  Company's   reimbursement
obligation  described  below.  The  reimbursement  amount would be determined by
multiplying  the number of shares,  if any, that AOL sells during the applicable
period by the  difference  between the purchase  price per share paid by AOL, or
$19 per share,  and the price per share that AOL sells the shares  for,  if less
than $19 per share.  The  reimbursement  amount may not exceed $14 per share for
2,894,737 shares or $11 per share for 1,226,635 shares. Accordingly, the maximum
amount  payable to AOL as  reimbursement  on the sale of AOL's  shares  would be
approximately   $54.0  million  plus  AOL's  reasonable   expenses  incurred  in
connection  with the sale.  The  Company  has the option of  six-month  10% note
payable to AOL to satisfy the  reimbursement  amount or other amounts payable on
exercise  of its  first  refusal  rights.  Assuming  AOL were to sell all of its
shares subject to the Company's reimbursement obligation at the closing price of
the Company's common stock as of June 30, 1999, the  reimbursement  amount would
be  approximately  $31.9 million.  At June 30, 1999, the Company  recorded $31.9
million  for the  contingent  redemption  value  of  this  common  stock  with a
corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital. AOL also has the right on
termination of long distance  exclusivity under the AOL marketing  agreements to
require the Company to repurchase the warrants to purchase  2,721,984  shares of
common  stock of the Company held by AOL for a minimum  price of $36.3  million,
which repurchase price can be paid in Company common stock,  cash or a six-month
note.  The Company has pledged the stock of its  subsidiaries  and has agreed to
fund an escrow account of up to $35 million from 50% of the proceeds of any debt
financing, other than a bank, receivable or other asset based financing of up to
$50 million, to secure its obligations under the Investment  Agreement with AOL.
AOL has agreed that it will  subordinate  its  security  interests to permit the
securitization  of certain future  financings by the Company.  Mr.  Borislow has
agreed to guarantee up to $20,000,000 of the Company's reimbursement obligations
under the Investment Agreement with AOL.

                                       8

<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 (b) Restriction on Future Sales of Common Stock

     The Company is subject to certain  restrictions  under the terms of certain
registration  rights agreements that could affect the Company's ability to raise
capital. Under these agreements,  entered into by the Company for the benefit of
Mr. Borislow and two trusts for the benefit of his children (the "Trusts"),  the
Company has agreed that as long as Mr. Borislow  continues to own at least 2% of
the Company's  outstanding  common stock,  the Company will use up to 40% of the
proceeds  from the sale of any  public or  private  debt  securities,  excluding
borrowings  from a commercial bank or financial  institution,  to repurchase the
Company's  Convertible  Notes held by Mr.  Borislow or the Trusts and that until
June 2000,  the Company will not sell any shares of capital stock of the Company
without  the  consent  of Mr.  Borislow  (other  than  sales of common  stock on
exercise  of options or rights as long as the  proceeds  are used to  repurchase
common stock of the Company held by Mr.  Borislow or the Trusts).  Mr.  Borislow
has agreed to  subordinate  his rights to require the Company to repurchase  the
Company's  Convertible  Notes held by him or the Trusts  until the AOL escrow is
fully funded.

5. Legal Proceedings

     On June 16,  1998,  a purported  shareholder  class action was filed in the
United States District Court for the Eastern  District of  Pennsylvania  against
the Company and certain of its officers  alleging  violation  of the  securities
laws in connection  with certain  disclosures  made by the Company in its public
filings and seeking unspecified damages. Thereafter,  additional lawsuits making
substantially  the same  allegations  were filed by other plaintiffs in the same
court. At this point,  no classes have been  certified.  A motion to dismiss was
recently  granted as to certain  officers  of the  Company  and denied as to the
Company.  There are currently no officers of the Company who is a party to these
actions.  The Company  believes the  allegations  in the  complaints are without
merit and intends to defend the  litigations  vigorougly.  The Company also is a
party to certain legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.

     The Company  believes that the ultimate  outcome of the  foregoing  actions
will not result in liability  that would have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.

                                       9

<PAGE>






                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
          OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following tables set forth for the periods  indicated certain financial
data as a percentage of sales:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                            JUNE 30,
                                                                  --------------------------
                                                                      1999          1998
                                                                     ------        ------
<S>                                                                  <C>           <C>
Sales                                                                100.0%        100.0%
Cost of sales                                                         62.7          83.8
                                                                     ------        ------
Gross profit                                                          37.3          16.2
General and administrative expenses                                    7.7           9.2
Promotional, marketing and advertising expenses                       18.1          33.8
Significant other charges (income)                                    (1.3)          0.2
                                                                     ------        ------
Operating income (loss)                                               12.8         (27.0)
Investment and other income (expense), net                            (0.8)          0.9
                                                                     ------        ------
Income (loss) before income taxes                                     12.0         (26.1)
Provision for income taxes                                              --          60.4
                                                                     ------        ------
Net income (loss)                                                     12.0%        (86.5)%
                                                                     ======        ======

                                                                  FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                                          JUNE 30,
                                                                  ------------------------
                                                                      1999          1998
                                                                     ------        ------
Sales                                                                100.0%        100.0%
Cost of sales                                                         65.0          83.9
                                                                     ------        ------
Gross profit                                                          35.0          16.1
General and administrative expenses                                    8.5           9.8
Promotional, marketing and advertising expenses                       15.7          42.0
Significant other charges (income)                                    (1.2)         10.7
                                                                     ------        ------
Operating income (loss)                                               12.0         (46.4)
Investment and other income (expense), net                            (0.4)         (1.8)
                                                                     ------        ------
Income (loss) before income taxes                                     11.6         (48.2)
Provision for income taxes                                              --          20.0
                                                                     ------        ------
Income (loss) before extraordinary gain                               11.6         (68.2)
Extraordinary gain                                                     8.3            --
                                                                     ------        ------
Net income (loss)                                                     19.9%       (68.2)%
                                                                     ======        ======
</TABLE>

                                       10

<PAGE>

                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

  THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998

     Sales.  Sales increased by 5.4% to  $117.1million  in the second quarter of
1999 from $111.1  million in the second  quarter of 1998.  The increase in sales
primarily  reflected  an  increase  in the  number  of  customers  under the AOL
Agreement.  The AOL-related sales increase was partially offset by a decrease in
the Company's  non-AOL sales.

     Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales  decreased  by 21.1% to $73.4  million in the
second  quarter of 1999 from $93.1 million in the second  quarter of 1998.  This
decrease was  primarily  due to lower  network usage costs for OBN services on a
per minute  basis and lower  partition  costs due to the  Company's  decrease in
non-AOL  sales.

     Gross Margin. Gross margin increased to 37.3% in the second quarter of 1999
from  16.2% in the second  quarter of 1998.  The  increase  in gross  margin was
primarily  due to lower  network  usage  costs for OBN  services on a per minute
basis and lower partition costs due to the Company's  decrease in non-AOL sales.
The Company  anticipates  continued  gross margin  improvement;  however,  price
competition continues to intensify for the Company's products and this trend can
be expected to continue to put downward pressure on gross margins.

     Other Operating Expenses.  General and administrative expenses decreased by
11.2% to $9.0  million in the second  quarter of 1999 from $10.2  million in the
second quarter of 1998. The decrease in general and administrative  expenses was
due primarily to the elimination of general and administrative  expenses of TSFL
Holdings,  Inc.  (as  discussed  below)  and  decreased  fees  for  professional
services,  offset by increased costs associated with hiring additional personnel
to support the Company's  continuing growth.  During the second quarter of 1999,
the Company  incurred $21.2 million of  promotional,  marketing and  advertising
expense to expand its online  customer base.  During the second quarter of 1998,
the Company  incurred $37.6 million of  promotional,  marketing and  advertising
expense,  including $8.5 million related to the AOL Agreement,  $5.2 million for
the  performance  warrants  issued to AOL on June 30, 1998 and $23.9  million of
other AOL related marketing and advertising  efforts.  During the second quarter
of 1999,  the Company sold the last remaining  division of TSFL  Holdings,  Inc.
(formerly  Symetrics  Industries,  Inc.),  resulting in a gain of $1.5  million,
which was included in significant other charges  (income).

     Investment  and Other Income  (Expense),  Net.  Investment and other income
(expense),  net was $(0.9)  million in the second  quarter of 1999  versus  $1.0
million in the  second  quarter  of 1998.  During  the  second  quarter of 1999,
investment and other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest income
offset by interest expense related to the Company's convertible debt.

                                       11


<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


   SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998

     Sales.  Sales  increased by 12.6% to $227.7 million in the first six months
of 1999 from  $202.2  million in the first six months of 1998.  The  increase in
sales  primarily  reflected an increase in the number of customers under the AOL
Agreement.  The AOL-related sales increase was partially offset by a decrease in
the Company's non-AOL sales.

     Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales  decreased by 12.7% to $148.1  million in the
first six  months of 1999 from  $169.6  million in the first six months of 1998.
This decrease was primarily due to lower network usage costs for OBN services on
a per minute basis and lower  partition  costs due to the Company's  decrease in
non-AOL sales.

     Gross  Margin.  Gross margin  increased to 35.0% in the first six months of
1999 from 16.1% in the first six months of 1998.  The  increase in gross  margin
was  primarily due to lower network usage costs for OBN services on a per minute
basis and lower partition costs due to the Company's decrease in non-AOL sales.

     Other Operating Expenses.  General and administrative expenses decreased by
3.2% to $19.2  million in the first six months of 1999 from $19.8 million in the
first six months of 1998.  The decrease in general and  administrative  expenses
was due primarily to the elimination of general and  administrative  expenses of
TSFL Holdings,  Inc. (as discussed  below) and decreased  fees for  professional
services,  offset by increased costs associated with hiring additional personnel
to support the Company's continuing growth. During the first six months of 1999,
the Company  incurred $35.8 million of  promotional,  marketing and  advertising
expense to expand its online customer base. During the first six months of 1998,
the Company  incurred $84.9 million of  promotional,  marketing and  advertising
expense, including $33.4 million related to the AOL Agreement, $16.1 million for
the  performance  warrants issued to AOL during the first six months of 1998 and
$35.4 million of other AOL related marketing and advertising efforts. During the
first six  months  of 1999,  the  Company  sold TSFL  Holdings,  Inc.  (formerly
Symetrics  Industries,  Inc.),  resulting  in a gain of $2.7  million  which was
included in significant other charges  (income).  During the first six months of
1998,  the  Company  allocated  $21.0  million of the  acquisition  cost of TSFL
Holdings, Inc. to purchased research and development expense, which was included
in significant other charges (income).

     Investment  and Other Income  (Expense),  Net.  Investment and other income
(expense),  net was $(1.0) million in the first six months of 1999 versus $(3.8)
million  in the first six  months of 1998.  During the first six months of 1999,
investment and other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest income
offset by interest expense related to the Company's convertible debt.

     Extraordinary  gain.  During  the first six  months  of 1999,  the  Company
recorded an  extraordinary  gain of $19.0  million from the  acquisition  of the
Company's convertible debt at a discount from its aggregate principal amount.


                                       12
<PAGE>
                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES




LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     The Company's  working  capital was $35.2 million and $13.1 million at June
30, 1999 and December 31, 1998,  respectively.  This increase in working capital
is  primarily  a result of the cash  generated  during the first six months 1999
from the  Company's  operations.

     The Company expended an aggregate of $126.0 million of cash, Company common
stock and other consideration for the repurchase of Convertible Notes during the
first six months of 1999.  The Company (a) purchased  from Mr.  Borislow and two
trusts  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Borislow's  children  $76,557,000  aggregate
principal amount of the Company's  Convertible  Notes for $65.4 million in cash;
(b) exchanged the $53.7 million  remaining on the WorldxChange  Notes to a trust
for the benefit of Mr. Borislow's  children for $62,545,000  aggregate principal
amount of the Company's Convertible Notes and (c) purchased $9,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company's  Convertible Notes for $6.9 million in Company
common stock. As of June 30, 1999, the Company had reduced the principal  amount
outstanding of its  Convertible  Notes to $94.3 million ($66.9 million of 4 1/2%
notes  and $27.4  million  of 5% notes)  of which  approximately  $52.4  million
continues to be held by one of such trusts.  The Company also purchased from Mr.
Borislow  approximately  639,000 shares of common stock for  approximately  $7.7
million  during the first six months of 1999 with  proceeds from the exercise of
stock options  pursuant to  agreements  with Mr.  Borislow.

         On January 5, 1999, pursuant to an Investment Agreement between AOL and
the Company,  AOL acquired 4,121,372 shares of common stock for $55.0 million in
cash and the  surrender  of rights to acquire up to  5,076,016  shares of common
stock  pursuant  to  various  warrants  held  by AOL.  Under  the  terms  of the
Investment  Agreement  with AOL,  the  Company has agreed to  reimburse  AOL for
losses  AOL may  incur on the sale of any of the  4,121,372  shares  during  the
period from June 1, 1999 through  September 30, 2000.  The Company has the first
right to  purchase  any of the  4,121,372  shares of common  stock at the market
value on the day that AOL  notifies  the Company of their  intent to sell any of
the  shares  plus  an  amount,  if any,  equal  to the  Company's  reimbursement
obligation  described  below.  The  reimbursement  amount would be determined by
multiplying  the number of shares,  if any, that AOL sells during the applicable
period by the  difference  between the purchase  price per share paid by AOL, or
$19 per share,  and the price per share that AOL sells the shares  for,  if less
than $19 per share.  The  reimbursement  amount may not exceed $14 per share for
2,894,737 shares or $11 per share for 1,226,635 shares. Accordingly, the maximum
amount  payable to AOL as  reimbursement  on the sale of AOL's  shares  would be
approximately   $54.0  million  plus  AOL's  reasonable   expenses  incurred  in
connection  with the sale. The Company has the option of issuing a six-month 10%
note payable to AOL to satisfy the reimbursement amount or other amounts payable
on exercise of its first  refusal  rights.  Assuming AOL were to sell all of its
shares subject to the Company's reimbursement obligation at the closing price of
the Company's common stock as of June 30, 1999, the  reimbursement  amount would
be  approximately  $31.9 million.  At June 30, 1999, the Company  recorded $31.9
million  for the  contingent  redemption  value  of  this  common  stock  with a
corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital. AOL also has the right on
termination of long distance  exclusivity under the AOL marketing  agreements to
require the Company to repurchase the warrants to purchase  2,721,984  shares of
common  stock of the Company held by AOL for a minimum  price of $36.3  million,
which repurchase price can be paid in Company common stock,  cash or a six-month
note.  The Company has pledged the stock of its  subsidiaries  and has agreed to
fund an escrow account of up to $35 million from 50% of the proceeds of any debt
financing, other than a bank, receivable or other asset based financing of up to
$50 million, to secure its obligations under the Investment  Agreement with AOL.
AOL has agreed that it will  subordinate  its  security  interests to permit the
securitization  of certain future  financings by the Company.  Mr.  Borislow has
agreed to guarantee up to $20,000,000 of the Company's reimbursement obligations
under the Investment Agreement with AOL.

     The Company is subject to certain  restrictions  under the terms of certain
registration  rights agreements that could affect the Company's ability to raise
capital. Under these agreements,  entered into by the Company for the benefit of
Mr. Borislow and two trusts for the benefit of his children (the "Trusts"),  the
Company has agreed that as long as Mr. Borislow  continues to own at least 2% of
the Company's  outstanding  common stock,  the Company will use up to 40% of the
proceeds  from the sale of any  public or  private  debt  securities,  excluding
borrowings  from a commercial bank or financial  institution,  to repurchase the
Company's  Convertible  Notes held by Mr.  Borislow or the Trusts and that until
June 2000,  the Company will not sell any shares of capital stock of the Company
without  the  consent  of Mr.  Borislow  (other  than  sales of common  stock on
exercise  of options or rights as long as the  proceeds  are used to  repurchase
common stock of the Company held by Mr.  Borislow or the Trusts).  Mr.  Borislow


                                       13

<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

has agreed to  subordinate  his rights to require the Company to repurchase  the
Company's  Convertible  Notes held by him or the Trusts  until the AOL escrow is
fully funded.

     The Company  generally does not have a significant  concentration of credit
risk with  respect to accounts  receivable  due to the large number of end users
comprising the Company's  customer base and their  dispersion  across  different
geographic  regions.  The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses
and, to date, such losses have been within the Company's expectations.

     The  Company  does  not,  and has not  historically,  required  significant
amounts of working capital for its day-to-day  operations.  The Company believes
that its current cash position and the cash flow  expected to be generated  from
operations will be sufficient to fund its capital expenditures,  working capital
and other cash  requirements  for at least the next twelve  months.  The Company
believes that,  assuming the current market price of its common stock,  its cash
flow from operations will be sufficient to fund any reimbursement  amount in the
event  that AOL  elects to sell its shares of the  Company's  common  stock at a
price below $19 per share and that, alternatively,  it has the ability to obtain
the  necessary  financing  to fund  its  obligations  under  the AOL  Investment
Agreement.  Should the Company seek to raise additional capital, there can be no
assurance that,  given current market  conditions,  the Company would be able to
raise such additional capital on terms acceptable to the Company.

     YEAR 2000

     The "Year 2000 issue" refers to the potential  harm from computer  programs
that  identify  dates by the last two digits of the year  rather  than using the
full four digits. Such programs could fail due to  misidentification of dates on
or after  January  1,  2000.  If such a failure  were to occur to the  Company's
internal  computer-based  systems or to the  computer-based  systems operated by
third parties that are critical to the Company's  operations,  the Company could
be unable to continue  to provide  telecommunications  services,  to sign up new
customers or to bill existing  customers for services.  Such  failures,  if they
occurred,  would  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,
results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.   However,  because  of  the
complexity of the issues,  the number of parties involved and the fact that many
of the issues are outside the Company's  control,  the Company cannot reasonably
predict with certainty the nature or likelihood of such effects.

     The Company,  using its internal staff,  has conducted a review and test of
most of the internal  computer-based  systems. Most of the Company's systems are
relatively  new.  Much of the  software  used by the Company has been  developed
internally  and  is  regularly   modified  and  updated  to  meet  the  changing
requirements  of its business.  The Company  expects that its critical  internal
systems  will be able to  process  relevant  date  information  in the future to
permit the  Company to  continue to provide  its  services  without  significant
interruption or material  adverse effect on its business,  results of operations
and financial  condition.  However,  there can be no assurances that the Company
will not experience  unanticipated  negative  consequences  caused by undetected
errors or defects in the technology used in its internal systems.

     Notwithstanding the Company's expectation that its own systems will be able
to  process  Year  2000  date  information,   the  Company's   business  depends
significantly  on  receiving   uninterrupted  services  by  other  parties.  The
principal   service   suppliers  to  the  Company  include  other   switch-based
long-distance  providers, the local exchange carriers throughout the country and
AOL.  Other parties whose ability to deal with Year 2000 issues could affect the
Company include the Company's partitions and the credit and debit card companies
through which most of the  Company's  AOL customers are billed.  The Company has
made  inquiry of some of these  parties  regarding  their  respective  levels of
preparedness  for Year 2000 issues as they may affect the  Company.  The Company
will continue to make such inquiries and will monitor the public  disclosures of
such companies  regarding their Year 2000 status.  So far, the responses to such
inquiries have been generally  non-committal regarding levels of preparedness or
willingness  to provide  assurances  to the  Company.  In almost all cases,  the
Company is not in a position to require either  affirmative action or assurances
by these  parties  regarding  continued  provision of services in the Year 2000.
Accordingly,  while  the  Company  has not been  advised  by any of these  other
companies  on which it depends that they do not expect to be ready for Year 2000
issues,  the  Company  does not  believe  it is in a  position  to  project  the
likelihood of such parties' abilities to provide  uninterrupted  services to the
Company.  The Company has considered  possible  contingency plans.  Although the
Company has entered into multiple contracts with long-distance service providers
to support its OBN network,  the failure of any of the significant  suppliers to
provide  uninterrupted  service  to the  Company  would  likely  have a material
adverse  effect on the  Company's  business  and its results of  operations  and
financial condition.

                                       14

<PAGE>


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



     The Company does not separately  identify costs incurred in connection with
Year 2000 compliance activities.  To date, however, the Company does not believe
such costs to be  significant  because they  generally have been incurred in the
normal  course of  internally  modifying  and  updating the  Company's  software
programs.  Future  expenditures  are not expected to be significant  and will be
funded out of operating cash flows.


                                    * * * * *

     Certain   of  the   statements   contained   herein   may   be   considered
forward-looking  statements  within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933  and  Section  21E of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934.  Such
statements  are  identified  by the use of  forward-looking  words  or  phrases,
including,   but   not   limited   to,   "estimates,"   "expects,"   "expected,"
"anticipates," and "anticipated." These forward-looking  statements are based on
the  Company's  current  expectations.  Although the Company  believes  that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable,  there
can be no  assurance  that such  expectations  will prove to have been  correct.
Forward-looking  statements  involve risks and  uncertainties  and the Company's
actual  results  could differ  materially  from the Company's  expectations.  In
addition to those factors  discussed  elsewhere  herein,  important factors that
could cause such actual  results to differ  materially  include,  among  others,
adverse  developments in the Company's  relationship  with AOL,  increased price
competition  for  long  distance  services,  failure  of the  marketing  of long
distance services under the AOL Agreement, attrition in the number of end users,
and  changes in  government  policy,  regulation  and  enforcement.  The Company
undertakes no obligations to update its forward-looking statements.












                                       15


<PAGE>

                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     On June 16,  1998,  a purported  shareholder  class action was filed in the
United States District Court for the Eastern  District of  Pennsylvania  against
the Company and certain of its officers  alleging  violation  of the  securities
laws in connection  with certain  disclosures  made by the Company in its public
filings and seeking unspecified damages. Thereafter,  additional lawsuits making
substantially  the same  allegations  were filed by other plaintiffs in the same
court. At this point,  no classes have been  certified.  A motion to dismiss was
recently  granted as to certain  officers  of the  Company  and denied as to the
Company.  There are currently no officers of the Company who is a party to these
actions.  The Company  believes the  allegations  in the  complaints are without
merit and intends to defend the  litigations  vigorously.  The Company also is a
party to certain legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.

     The Company  believes that the ultimate  outcome of the  foregoing  actions
will not result in liability  that would have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

       (a) Exhibits

           10.1  Employment   Agreement  by  and  among  Vincent W. Talbert and
                 Talk.com Inc. and  Talk.com  Holding Corp.  dated  as  of June
                 8, 1999.

           10.2  Indemnification  Agreement  by  and between Vincent W. Talbert
                 and Talk.com Inc. dated as of June 8, 1999.

           10.3  Non-Qualified Stock option Agreement  for  Vincent  W. Talbert.

           11    Computation of Net Income Per Share

           27    Financial Data Schedule

       (b) Reports on Form 8-K

       Since March 31,  1999,  the Company has not filed any Current  Reports on
       Form 8-K.











                                       16

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



Date:    August 13, 1999        TALK.COM INC.
                                ---------------
                                (Registrant)



                                    By: /s/ Gabriel Battista
                                        --------------------
                                        Gabriel Battista
                                        Chairman of the Board,
                                        Chief Executive Officer and President


                                    By: /s/ Edward B. Meyercord, III
                                        --------------------
                                        Edward B. Meyercord, III
                                        Chairman Financial Officer and Treasurer


                                    By: /s/ Kevin R. Kelly
                                        --------------------
                                        Kevin R. Kelly
                                        Controller







                                       17


                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the  8th  day  of  June,  1999  among  Talk.com  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation
("Talk.com") and Talk.com Holding Corp., a Pennsylvania corporation and a wholly
owned   subsidiary   of  Talk.com  (the   "Company")   and  Vincent  W.  Talbert
("Employee").


         WHEREAS,  Talk.com and Company  desires to employ Employee as Executive
Vice  President of  Marketing  of Talk.com and the Company and in certain  other
capacities, and Employee desires to be employed by Talk.com and Company; and

         WHEREAS,  Talk.com and Company and  Employee  desire to enter into this
Agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions of said employment.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing,  the mutual covenants
set forth  herein and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby  acknowledged,  the  undersigned  hereby agree as
follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT.  Company agrees to employ Employee, and Employee accepts
such  employment  and agrees to serve  Company,  on the terms and conditions set
forth  herein.  Except as otherwise  specifically  provided  herein,  Employee's
employment shall be subject to the employment  policies and practices of Company
in effect from time to time during the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder
(including,   without  limitation,   its  practices  as  to  tax  reporting  and
withholding).

         2. TERM OF AGREEMENT. The term of Employee's employment hereunder shall
commence on July 6, 1999 (the "Commencement  Date") and shall continue in effect
for a period of three years  thereafter,  except as  hereinafter  provided  (the
"Term").  Employee agrees to and shall present himself at the offices of Company
in Reston,  Virginia (or such other  location as Employee may be directed by Mr.
Gabe Battista) prepared to commence performing his duties hereunder on or before
the Commencement Date ("Employment Presentment").

         3. POSITIONS AND DUTIES.

         3.1 OFFICER  POSITIONS.  Except as may otherwise be agreed upon between
Company  and  Employee,  Employee  shall  perform  such  duties  and  have  such
responsibilities  as Executive Vice President of Marketing and such other duties
and  responsibilities  consistent with the foregoing duties and responsibilities
as may be reasonably assigned or delegated to him from time to time by Company's
Chief  Executive   Officer  or  Company's  Board  of  Directors  (the  "Board"),
including,  without limitation,  service as an employee,  officer or director of
affiliates  (as that term is  defined  in Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"))  (hereinafter,



<PAGE>

"Affiliates") of Company,  without additional  compensation.  References in this
Agreement to  Employee's  employment  with  Company  shall be deemed to refer to
employment with Company and/or, as the case may be, an Affiliate, as the context
requires.  Employee shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of
his abilities hereunder in a diligent,  trustworthy,  businesslike and efficient
manner.  Employee shall devote substantially all of his working time and efforts
to the business and affairs of Company; provided,  however, that nothing in this
Agreement shall preclude Employee from (a) engaging in charitable activities and
community  affairs,  and (b)  managing  his  personal  investments  and  affairs
(subject to the limitations in Section 10 hereof.

         4. COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS.

         4.1 BASE SALARY.  During the Term, Company shall pay to Employee a base
salary  ("Base  Salary")  at the  rate of Two  Hundred  Fifty  Thousand  Dollars
($250,000)  per year,  which Base Salary shall be paid to Employee in accordance
with Company's usual and customary payroll practices.

         4.2  BENEFIT  PLANS AND  ARRANGEMENTS.  Employee  shall be  entitled to
participate in and to receive  benefits under Company's  employee  benefit plans
and  arrangements  (including,  but not  limited  to,  bonus  plans) as are made
available to the Company's  senior  executive  officers  during the Term,  which
employee  benefit plans and arrangements may be altered from time to time at the
discretion of the Board (the "Benefits").  Employee acknowledges and agrees that
bonuses,  annual or otherwise,  are performance based and discretionary with the
Board of Directors or a Committee thereof.

         4.3 PERQUISITES. During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to receive
fringe benefits as are made available to Company's senior executive officers.

         4.4  EXPENSES.  Company  shall  promptly  reimburse  Employee  for  all
out-of-pocket  expenses related to Company's  business that are actually paid or
incurred by him in the performance of his services under this Agreement and that
are incurred,  reported and documented in accordance with Company's policies. In
addition,  during the Term,  Company will provide Employee with an automobile or
an  automobile  allowance,  as  Company  shall  determine,  and if  the  Company
determines  to provide  Employee  with an  automobile,  Company  shall keep such
automobile  fully insured in accordance  with Company's  practices for similarly
situated employees.

         4.5 STOCK OPTIONS.

                  (a) GRANT OF OPTIONS.  Effective on the date hereof,  Employee
shall be granted an award of an option to purchase  350,000 shares of the Common
Stock  (the  "Option")  in  accordance  with  the  stock  option   agreement  in
substantially in the form thereof attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Option shall
have an exercise price equal to $10 1/8, which is equal to the fair market value
(as defined below) of the Common Stock on the date hereof. The Option expires on
the tenth anniversary of the date hereof and shall vest and become  exercisable,
subject to accelerated  vesting in the event of a Change

                                       2

<PAGE>

in Control (defined as provided below) of Company in  installments,  as follows:
(i) options with respect to 100,000 shares of Common Stock shall vest and become
exercisable  upon Employment  Presentment;  (ii) options with respect to 125,000
shares  of  Common  Stock  shall  vest  and  become  exercisable  on  the  first
anniversary  of the date hereof and (iii) options with respect to 125,000 shares
of Common Stock shall vest and become  exercisable on the second  anniversary of
the date  hereof.  In the event of a Change in  Control of  Company,  all of the
options issued under the Option which are not then vested and exercisable  shall
immediately become vested and exercisable. The fair market value of Common Stock
for  purposes of this  Agreement  shall mean the last  reported  sale price of a
share of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market  System  preceding the
date in question or if no sale took place on such day,  such last  reported sale
price  on  the  then  next  preceding  date  on  which  such  sale  took  place.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Option shall be forfeited by Employee if an
Employment  Presentment  does not take place on or before July 6, 1999.  For the
purposes  of this  Agreement,  a  "Change  of  Control"  shall be deemed to have
occurred if:

                           (i)      any  Person (as  defined in Section  3(a)(9)
                                    under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
                                    as amended (the "Exchange Act")), other than
                                    the Company,  becomes the  Beneficial  Owner
                                    (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
                                    Act; provided, that a Person shall be deemed
                                    to be the  Beneficial  Owner  of all  shares
                                    that  any  such  Person  has  the  right  to
                                    acquire   pursuant  to  any   agreement   or
                                    arrangement  or upon  exercise of conversion
                                    rights,  warrants,   options  or  otherwise,
                                    without regard to the 60 day period referred
                                    to in Rule 13d-3  under the  Exchange  Act),
                                    directly or indirectly, of securities of the
                                    Company or any  Significant  Subsidiary  (as
                                    defined below)  representing  50% or more of
                                    the combined  voting power of the Company's,
                                    or such  subsidiary's,  as the  case may be,
                                    then outstanding securities;

                           (ii)     during any period of two years,  individuals
                                    who  at  the   beginning   of  such   period
                                    constitute  the Board  and any new  director
                                    (other  than  a  director  designated  by  a
                                    person  who has  entered  into an  agreement
                                    with the  Company  to  effect a  transaction
                                    described in clauses (i),  (iii), or (iv) of
                                    this  Section  2(a))  whose  election by the
                                    Board  or   nomination   for   election   by
                                    stockholders  was  approved  by a vote of at
                                    least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then
                                    still in office who either were directors at
                                    the  beginning  of the  two-year  period  or
                                    whose  election or  nomination  for election
                                    was  previously  so approved,  but excluding
                                    for this purpose any such new director whose
                                    initial  assumption  of  office  occurs as a
                                    result of  either  an  actual or  threatened
                                    election   contest   or  other   actual   or
                                    threatened   solicitation   of   proxies  or

                                       3

<PAGE>

                                    consents  by or on behalf of an  individual,
                                    corporation, partnership, group, association
                                    or other entity other than the Board,  cease
                                    for any  reason  to  constitute  at  least a
                                    majority  of  the  Board  of  either  or the
                                    Company or a Significant Subsidiary;

                           (iii)    the    consummation    of   a   merger    or
                                    consolidation   of   the   Company   or  any
                                    subsidiary of the Company owning directly or
                                    indirectly all or  substantially  all of the
                                    consolidated   assets  of  the   Company  (a
                                    "Significant  Subsidiary")  with  any  other
                                    entity, other than a merger or consolidation
                                    which would result in the voting  securities
                                    of the Company or a  Significant  Subsidiary
                                    outstanding    immediately   prior   thereto
                                    continuing  to  represent  more  than  fifty
                                    percent  (50%) of the combined  voting power
                                    of  the   surviving  or   resulting   entity
                                    outstanding immediately after such merger or
                                    consolidation;

                           (v)      (iv) the shareholders of the Company approve
                                    a  plan  or   agreement   for  the  sale  or
                                    disposition  of fifty  percent (50%) or more
                                    of the consolidated assets of the Company in
                                    which  case the Board  shall  determine  the
                                    effective  date  of the  Change  of  Control
                                    resulting therefrom; and

                           (vi)     any  other  event  occurs  which  the  Board
                                    determines,   in   its   discretion,   would
                                    materially   alter,  the  structure  of  the
                                    Company or its ownership.



         (b) REGISTRATION  STATEMENT.  Company will file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any applicable state securities regulatory authorities a
Registration  Statement  on the  applicable  form to register  the resale of the
Award and Form S-8 (or if unavailable,  a registration statement on Form S-3) to
register the shares  issuable  upon exercise of the Option under the Act and any
applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws as soon as practicable  after the
date  hereof.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  Company  shall be  entitled  to
postpone for a reasonable period of time the filing or the effectiveness of such
registration  statement  if the Board  shall  determine  in good faith that such
filing  or  effectiveness  would  be  materially  detrimental  to the  Company's
business interests.

         4.6  BONUSES.  Company  shall pay  Employee on  September  30, 1999 and
December  31,  1999  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  Twenty-five   Thousand  Dollars
($125,000).

                                       4

<PAGE>

         5.  TERMINATION.  The Term of  Employee's  employment  hereunder may be
terminated under the following circumstances:

         5.1 DEATH. The Term of Employee's  employment hereunder shall terminate
upon his death.

         5.2 DISABILITY.  If Employee  becomes  physically or mentally  disabled
during the term hereof so that he is unable to perform services  required of him
pursuant to this Agreement for an aggregate of six (6) months in any twelve (12)
month period (a `Disability"),  Company, at its option, may terminate Employee's
employment hereunder.

         5.3 CAUSE.  Upon  written  notice,  Company  may  terminate  Employee's
employment  hereunder  for  Cause  (as  defined  below).  For  purposes  of this
Agreement,  Company  shall  have  "Cause"  to  terminate  Employee's  employment
hereunder  upon (a) a material  breach by Employee of any material  provision of
this  Agreement,   (b)  willful   misconduct  by  Employee  in  connection  with
misappropriating  any funds or property of Company, (c) attempting to obtain any
personal  profit from any  transaction in which Employee has an interest that is
adverse to the interests of Company without prior written  disclosure thereof to
the Board or (d)  Employee's  gross  neglect  in the  performance  of the duties
required to be performed by Employee under this Agreement.

         5.4 BY EMPLOYEE. Employee may terminate his employment hereunder:

         (a) Upon sixty (60) days' prior  written  notice to  Company,  provided
that,  upon the giving of such  notice by  Employee,  Company may  establish  an
earlier date for such termination under this Section 5.4 (a).

         (b) For Good Reason (as defined below)  immediately  and with notice to
Company.  "Good Reason" for  termination by Employee  shall include,  but is not
limited to, the following:

                  (i)      Material breach of any provision of this Agreement by
                           Company,  which  breach  shall not have been cured by
                           Company within thirty (30) days of receipt of written
                           notice of said material breach;

                  (ii)     Failure by Company to maintain Employee in a position
                           commensurate  with that  referred  to in Section 3 of
                           this Agreement; or

                  (iii)    The assignment to Employee of any duties inconsistent
                           with  Employee's  position,   authority,   duties  or
                           responsibilities  as contemplated by Section 3 hereof
                           or any other  action by  Company  that  results  in a
                           diminution  of such  position,  authority,  duties or
                           responsibilities.

                                       5

<PAGE>

         5.5  WITHOUT  CAUSE.  Company  may  otherwise  terminate  the  Term  of
Employee's employment at any time upon written notice to Employee.

         6.  COMPENSATION  IN  THE  EVENT  OF  TERMINATION.  In the  event  that
Employee's employment hereunder terminates prior to the end of the Term, Company
shall make payments to Employee as set forth below:

         6.1 BY EMPLOYEE FOR GOOD REASON; BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. In the event
that Employee's  employment  hereunder is terminated by Company without Cause or
by Employee  for Good  Reason,  then the Company  shall (a) pay to Employee  all
amounts due to Employee pursuant to any bonus that was due to Employee as of the
date of such  termination,  pursuant to the terms of such bonus (a "Due Bonus"),
(b) continue to pay to Employee  the Base Salary and Benefits to which  Employee
would be entitled  hereunder in the manner provided for herein for the period of
time  ending on the  earlier  of the date  when the Term  would  otherwise  have
expired in accordance  with Section 2 hereof and the second  anniversary  of the
date of such termination, (c) reimburse Employee for expenses that may have been
incurred, but which have not been paid as of the date of termination, subject to
the requirements of Section 4.4 hereof and (d) one hundred percent (100%) of the
outstanding  stock  options  granted to the  Employee  that are  unvested  shall
immediately vest and become exercisable.

         6.2 BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE; BY EMPLOYEE WITHOUT GOOD REASON. In the event
that Company shall terminate Employee's  employment hereunder for Cause pursuant
to Section 5.3 hereof or  Employee  shall  terminate  his  employment  hereunder
without Good Reason, all compensation and Benefits, as specified in Section 4 of
this  Agreement,  theretofore  payable or provided to Employee shall cease to be
payable or  provided,  except for any Due Bonus and any  Benefits  that may have
been due and payable  but that have not been paid as of the date of  termination
and  reimbursement  of expenses that may have been incurred,  but which have not
been paid as of the date of termination,  subject to the requirements of Section
4.4 hereof.

         6.3  DEATH.  In the event of  Employee's  death,  Company  shall not be
obligated to pay Employee or his estate or beneficiaries any compensation except
for (a) any Due Bonus or any Benefits  that may have been earned and are due and
payable  as of the date of death,  but which have not been paid as of such date,
(b)  reimbursement  of expenses that may have been incurred,  but which have not
been paid as of the date of death,  subject to the  requirements  of Section 4.4
hereof,  and (c) all  outstanding  stock  options  granted to Employee  that are
unvested shall immediately vest and become  exercisable and Employee's estate or
beneficiaries,  as the case may be, shall have the right to exercise any of such
stock  options  during the period  commencing on the date of death and ending on
the second  anniversary of the date of such  termination or for the remainder of
the  period  set  forth in the  option  agreement  applicable  to the  option in
question (the "Exercise Period'), if less.

         6.4 DISABILITY.  In the event of Employee's  Disability,  Company shall
not be obligated to pay Employee or his estate or  beneficiaries  any additional
compensation

                                       6

<PAGE>

except for: (a) any Due Bonus and Benefits that may have been earned and are due
and payable as of the date of such  Disability,  but which have not been paid as
of such date, and (b) reimbursement for expenses that may have been incurred but
which  have  not  been  paid  as of  the  date  of  Disability,  subject  to the
requirements of Section 4.4 hereof.  Upon  termination due to Disability,  fifty
percent  (50%) of the  outstanding  stock  options  granted to Employee that are
unvested  shall  immediately  vest and become  exercisable  and  Employee or his
estate or  beneficiaries,  as the case may be,  shall have the right to exercise
any of such stock options during the period commencing on the date of Disability
and ending on the second  anniversary  of the date of the  Disability or for the
remainder of Exercise Period, if less.

         6.5 NO MITIGATION.  In the event of any termination of employment under
Section  5  hereof,  Employee  shall  be  under  no  obligation  to  seek  other
employment;  provided;  however,  that to the extent that  Employee  does obtain
other  employment   subsequent  to  the  termination  of  Employee's  employment
hereunder,  the obligations of Company to pay Benefits under this Agreement from
and after the date of commencement of such other employment shall terminate.

         7.  UNAUTHORIZED  DISCLOSURE.  Employee  shall not,  without  the prior
written consent of Company, disclose or use in any way, either during Employee's
employment with Company or thereafter,  except as required in the course of such
employment,  any confidential  business or technical information or trade secret
acquired  in the  course of such  employment,  whether  or not  conceived  of or
prepared  by him,  which is related to any service or business of Company or any
Affiliate;  provided,  however,  that  the  foregoing  shall  not  apply  to (a)
information  that is not unique to the Company or that is generally known to the
industry  or the  public  other  than as a result of  Employee's  breach of this
covenant, (b) information known to Employee other than from information provided
by Company or (c)  information  that Employee is required to disclose to, or by,
any governmental or judicial authority; provided, however, if Employee should be
required in the course of judicial or other governmental proceedings to disclose
any  information,  Employee  shall give Company prompt written notice thereof so
that Company may seek an  appropriate  protective  order and/or waive in writing
compliance with the  confidentiality  provisions of this  Agreement.  If, in the
absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver by Company, Employee is
compelled  to disclose  information  to, or pursuant to the  requirements  of, a
court or other governmental authority, Employee may disclose such information to
such court or other governmental  authority without liability to any other party
hereto.

         8. TANGIBLE  ITEMS.  All files,  records,  documents,  manuals,  books,
forms,  reports,   memoranda,   studies,  data,  calculations,   recordings  and
correspondence,  in whatever form they may exist, and all copies,  abstracts and
summaries of the  foregoing  and all physical  items  related to the business of
Company and its  affiliates,  other than  merely  personal  items,  whether of a
public  nature or not,  and whether  prepared by Employee or not,  and which are
received by Employee from, or on behalf of Company or an Affiliate in the course
of his  employment  hereunder  are and shall  remain the  exclusive  property of
Company and any such Affiliate and shall not be removed from the premises

                                       7

<PAGE>

of the Company or such Affiliate,  as the case may be, except as required in the
course of Employee's employment hereunder,  without the prior written consent of
the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  or the  Board,  and the same shall be
promptly returned by Employee upon the termination of Employee's employment with
Company or at any time prior  thereto  upon the request of the  Company's  Chief
Executive Officer or the Board.

         9.  INVENTIONS  AND  PATENTS.  Employee  agrees,  except as provided in
Schedule 9 hereto, that all inventions, innovations, improvements, developments,
methods,  designs,  analyses,  drawings,  reports,  and all  similar  or related
information that relates to Company's actual or anticipated  business,  research
and  development  or  existing  or  future  products  or  services  and that are
conceived,  developed or made by or at the direction of Employee  while Employee
is  employed  by  Company  will be owned by  Company.  Employee  also  agrees to
promptly  perform,  at the expense of Company,  all reasonable  actions (whether
before,  during or after the Term)  necessary  to  establish  and  confirm  such
ownership.

         10. CERTAIN  RESTRICTIVE  COVENANTS.  During the Term, and for a period
ending  twelve  (12)  months  after the  earlier of  Employee's  termination  of
employment  hereunder  and the end of the Term for which the  Employee  is being
compensated at an annual rate equal to the Base Salary,  Employee agrees that he
will not act, either directly or indirectly,  as a partner,  officer,  director,
substantial  stockholder  (an equity  interest of 5% or more) or employee of, or
render  advisory  or other  services  for,  or in  connection  with,  or  become
interested  in,  or make  any  substantial  financial  investment  in any  firm,
corporation,  business  entity or  business  enterprise  that is a  provider  of
telecommunication  services  (each,  a  "Competitor"),  except  with the express
written consent of the Board.  Employee  further agrees that in the event of the
termination  of his  employment  under Section 5 hereof,  for a period of twelve
(12) months thereafter,  he will not, directly or indirectly,  employ,  offer to
employ,  or actively  interfere with the relationship of Company or an Affiliate
with, any employee of Company or any employee of any Affiliate.

                                       8

<PAGE>


         11. EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS. Employee hereby represents,
warrants  and  covenants  to  Company  that  (a)  the  execution,  delivery  and
performance  of this  Agreement by Employee does not and will not conflict with,
breach,  violate or cause a default  under any  employment,  non-competition  or
confidentiality contract or agreement,  instrument; order, judgment or decree to
which Employee is a party or by which he is bound;  (b) Employee,  in performing
this Agreement and the duties of Employee's  employment  with Company,  will not
disclose or utilize any trade secrets of a former employer,  unless Employee has
first obtained express written  authorization  from any such former employer for
their  disclosure  or use; (c)  Employee has not brought,  and will not bring to
Company,  any documents,  records,  information  or other  materials of a former
employer that are not  generally  available to the public,  unless  Employee has
first obtained express written  authorization  from any such former employer for
their  possession  and use;  and (d) upon the  execution  and  delivery  of this
Agreement by Company,  this Agreement shall be the valid and binding  obligation
of Employee,  enforceable  in accordance  with its terms,  subject to applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency  and  similar  laws  affecting  the rights of  creditors
generally.

         12. COMPANY  REPRESENTATIONS.  Company represents and warrants (a) that
it is duly  authorized  and  empowered  to enter  into this  Agreement,  (b) the
execution,  delivery and  performance  of this Agreement by Company does not and
will not conflict with,  breach,  violate or cause a default under any contract,
agreement,  instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Company is a party or
by which it is bound,  and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by  Employee,  this  Agreement  shall be the valid  and  binding  obligation  of
Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with its  terms,  subject  to  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency  and  similar  laws  affecting  the  rights of  creditor
generally.

         13.  INDEMNIFICATION.  Prior  to the  Commencement  Date,  Company  and
Employee  shall  enter  into an  indemnification  agreement  in a form  mutually
acceptable  to Company and Employee and  containing  terms no less  favorable to
Employee  than those  contained  in any  indemnification  or  similar  agreement
currently in effect between Company and any of its officers.

         14.  REMEDIES.   Employee   acknowledges   that  the  restrictions  and
agreements  contained in this  Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect
the  legitimate  interests of Company,  and that any violation of this Agreement
will cause  substantial  and  irreparable  injury to  Company  that would not be
quantifiable and for which no adequate remedy would exist at law and agrees that
injunctive  relief,  in  addition  to all  other  remedies,  shall be  available
therefor.

         15.  EFFECT OF  AGREEMENT  ON OTHER  BENEFITS.  Except as  specifically
provided  in this  Agreement,  the  existence  of this  Agreement  shall  not be
interpreted to preclude,  prohibit or restrict  Employee's  participation in any
other  employee  benefit  plan or other plans or programs  provided to officers,
directors or employees of Company.

                                       9

<PAGE>

         16. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEE'S  ESTATE. If Employee dies prior to the payment
of all  amounts  due and owing to him under  the terms of this  Agreement,  such
amounts shall be paid to such  beneficiary or beneficiaries as Employee may have
last  designated  in writing filed with the Secretary of Company or, if Employee
has made no  beneficiary  designation,  to Employee's  estate.  Such  designated
beneficiary  or the  executor  of  Employee's  estate,  as the case may be,  may
exercise all of Employee's  rights hereunder.  If any beneficiary  designated by
Employee shall predecease Employee, the designation of such beneficiary shall be
deemed  revoked,  and  any  amounts  which  would  have  been  payable  to  such
beneficiary shall be paid to Employee's  estate.  If any designated  beneficiary
survives  Employee,  but dies before payment of all amounts due hereunder,  such
payments  shall,  unless  Employee  has  designated  otherwise,  be made to such
beneficiary's estate. In the event of Employee's death or judicial determination
of his  incompetence,  reference in this  Agreement to Employee  shall be deemed
where  appropriate,  to  refer  to  his  beneficiary,   estate  or  other  legal
representative.

         17.  SEVERABILITY.  It is the intent and  understanding  of the parties
hereto that if, in any action  before any court or other  tribunal of  competent
jurisdiction legally empowered to enforce this Agreement, any term, restriction,
covenant,  or  promise  is  held  to  be  unenforceable  as a  result  of  being
unreasonable or for any other reason, then such term, restriction,  covenant, or
promise shall not thereby be terminated,  but, that it shall be deemed  modified
to the extent  necessary to make it  enforceable by such court or other tribunal
and,  if it cannot be so  modified,  that it shall be deemed  amended  to delete
therefrom such provision or portion  adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable,
and this agreement shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as so modified
and such modification or amendment in any event shall apply only with respect to
the operation of this  Agreement in the  particular  jurisdiction  in which such
adjudication is made.

         18. NOTICES.  Any notices or demands given in connection herewith shall
be in  writing  and  deemed  given when (a)  personally  delivered,  (b) sent by
facsimile  transmission  to a number  provided in writing by the addressee and a
confirmation  of the  transmission is received by the sender or (c) two (2) days
after being deposited for delivery with a recognized overnight courier,  such as
Federal  Express,  and  addressed or sent, as the case may be, to the address or
facsimile number set forth below or to such other address or facsimile number as
such party may in writing designate:

         If to Employee:   Vincent W. Talbert
                           8307 Tally Ho Road
                           Lutherville, MD  21093

         If to Company:    Talk.com Inc.
                           12020 Sunrise Valley Drive
                           Suite 250
                           Reston, VA  20190
                           Attn: President
                           Fax No.:  (703) 391-7524

                                       10

<PAGE>

Either  party may change its address for notices by written  notice to the other
party in accordance with this Section 17.

         19. WAIVER.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified,  waived or
discharged  unless such  waiver,  modification  or  discharge  is agreed to in a
writing  executed by Employee and Company.  No waiver by any party hereto at any
time of any breach by another party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition
or  provision  of this  Agreement  to be  performed by such other party shall be
deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or
at any prior or subsequent time.

         20.  GOVERNING  LAW. The  validity,  interpretation,  construction  and
performance  of this  Agreement  shall be governed  by the laws of  Pennsylvania
relating to contracts made and to be performed entirely therein.

         21.  HEADINGS.   The  headings  in  this  Agreement  are  inserted  for
convenience  only and shall have no significance in the  interpretation  of this
Agreement.

         22. SUCCESSORS. Company may not assign any of its rights or obligations
under this  Agreement  hereunder.  Employee  may assign his rights,  but not his
obligations, hereunder and all of Employee's rights hereunder shall inure to the
benefit  of his  estate,  personal  representatives,  designees  or other  legal
representatives.  All of the  rights of  Company  hereunder  shall  inure to the
benefit of, and be enforceable by the successors of Company. Any person, firm or
corporation  succeeding  to  the  business  of  Company  by  merger,   purchase,
consolidation  or otherwise  shall be deemed to have assumed the  obligations of
Company hereunder;  provided, however, that Company shall,  notwithstanding such
assumption  by a successor,  remain  primarily  liable and  responsible  for the
fulfillment of its obligations under this Agreement.

         23.  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  one or  more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original  but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         24.  CERTAIN  WORDS.  As used in this  Agreement,  the words  "herein,"
"hereunder,"  "hereof"  and  similar  words  shall  be  deemed  to refer to this
Agreement in its entirety, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

                                       11

<PAGE>


         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the  parties  hereto has  executed  this
Agreement as of the day and year first written above.


Talk.com Inc.                                        Talk.com Holding Corp.



By: /s/ Alyosius T.Lawn                           By: /s/ Alyosius T.Lawn
   ------------------------                          -----------------------
    Name:  Alyosius T.Lawn                           Name:  Alyosius T.Lawn
    Title: General Counsel and                       Title: General Counsel and
           Secretary                                        Secretary





/s/ Vincent W. Talbert
- ---------------------------
    Vincent W. Talbert

                                       12




                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                  TALK.COM INC.

                            INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

                  This  Indemnification  Agreement  ("Agreement")  is made as of
June 8,  1999,  by and  between  Talk.com  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"), and Vincent Talbert ("Indemnitee").

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain employment agreement between
the Company,  Talk.com  Holding  Corp.  and  Indemnitee  dated June 8, 1999 (the
"Employment Agreement") Indemnitee will commence service, on or prior to July 6,
1999 as  Executive  Vice  President  Marketing of the Company and will perform a
valuable service in such capacity for the Company; and

                  WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  to  attract  and  retain  the
services  of highly  qualified  individuals,  such as  Indemnitee,  to serve the
Company  and,  in order  to  induce  Indemnitee  to  enter  into the  Employment
Agreement,  the  Company  agreed  to enter  into an  agreement  with  Indemnitee
providing for the indemnification of Indemnitee as provided herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing,  the mutual
covenants  set forth  herein  and other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,  the undersigned hereby
agree as follows:

         1. Indemnification.

         (a) Indemnification of Indemnitee. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless  Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or
is or becomes a party to, or witness or other  participant  in, or is threatened
to be made a party to, or  witness  or other  participant  in,  any  threatened,
pending or completed action, suit,  proceeding or alternative dispute resolution
mechanism,  or any hearing,  inquiry or  investigation  that  Indemnitee in good
faith  believes  might  lead  to the  institution  of  any  such  action,  suit,
proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal,
administrative,  investigative or other (collectively, hereinafter a "Claim") by
reason  of,  or  arising  in whole or in part out of,  any  event or  occurrence
related to the fact that  Indemnitee  is or was a  director,  officer,  manager,
employee, agent, representative or fiduciary of the Company, a subsidiary of the
Company  (a  "Subsidiary")  or an  affiliate  (as  defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended) of the Company (an  "Affiliate"),  or is or
was serving at the request of the Company or any  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate as a
director,  officer,  manager,  employee,  agent,  representative or fiduciary of
another  corporation,  limited liability  company,  partnership,  joint venture,
employee  benefit plan,  trust or other entity or enterprise  (collectively,  an
"Other  Entity"),  or by  reason  of any  action  or  inaction  on the  part  of
Indemnitee while serving in any of such capacities,  whether or not the basis of
the Claim is an alleged action in an official  capacity as a director,  officer,
manager,  employee,  agent,  representative or fiduciary of the Company,  or any
Subsidiary,   Affiliate  or  Other  Entity  (any  of  the  foregoing  capacities
referenced in this Section 1(a), an "Indemnified Capacity"), against any and all
costs,  expenses and other amounts actually and reasonably  incurred and/or,  as
the case may be, paid (including,  without  limitation,  attorneys' fees and all
other  costs,  expenses and  obligations  actually  and  reasonably  incurred in
connection  with



<PAGE>

investigating,  defending,  being a witness in, or  otherwise  participating  in
(including  on appeal),  or preparing  to defend,  any Claim),  and  judgements,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in connection with the settlement of any Claim
and any federal,  state,  local or foreign taxes imposed on the  Indemnitee as a
result of the actual or deemed  receipt of any  payments  under this  Agreement,
including  all  interest,  assessments  and other charges paid or payable by the
Indemnitee  in connection  with or in respect of such costs,  expenses and other
amounts (collectively, hereinafter, the "Expenses"). Without limiting the rights
of Indemnitee under Section 2(a) below, the payment of Expenses actually paid by
Employee shall be made by the Company as soon as  practicable,  but in any event
no later than thirty (30) days after written  demand by  Indemnitee  therefor is
presented to the Company.  Any event giving use to the right of Indemnitee to be
indemnified hereinafter is referred to herein as an "Indemnifiable Event."

         (b) Reviewing Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations
of the Company under Section 1(a) hereof shall be subject to the condition  that
the  Reviewing  Party  (as  defined  in  Section  10(e)  hereof)  shall not have
determined (in a written  opinion,  in any case in which the  Independent  Legal
Counsel (as defined in Section 10(d) hereof) is involved) that Indemnitee  would
not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and (ii) the obligation
of the Company to make an advance payment of Expenses to Indemnitee  pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof (an  "Expense  Advance")  shall be subject to the  condition
that,  if,  when and to the extent  that the  Reviewing  Party  determines  that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the
Company shall be entitled to be  reimbursed by Indemnitee  (who hereby agrees to
so  reimburse  the Company) for all such  amounts  theretofore  paid;  provided,
however,  that  if  Indemnitee  has  commenced  or  thereafter  commences  legal
proceedings in a court of competent  jurisdiction to secure a determination that
Indemnitee could be indemnified under applicable law, any determination  made by
the Reviewing  Party that  Indemnitee  would not be permitted to be  indemnified
under  applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee  shall not be required
to  reimburse  the  Company  for any  Expense  Advance  until  a final  judicial
determination  is made with  respect  thereto  (as to which all rights of appeal
therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).  Indemnitee's  obligation to reimburse
the Company for any Expense  Advance shall be unsecured and no interest shall be
charged  thereon.  If there  has not been a Change in  Control  (as  defined  in
Section 10(c) hereof),  the Reviewing  Party shall be selected by members of the
Board  of  Directors  who are not or were  not,  as the  case may be, a party or
parties, as the case may be, to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is
sought,  and if there  has been a Change  in  Control  (other  than a Change  in
Control  which  has  been  approved  by a  majority  of the  Company's  Board of
Directors who were directors  immediately prior to such Change in Control),  the
Reviewing Party shall be the Independent  Legal Counsel.  If, within thirty (30)
days after the Company's  receipt of written  notice from  Indemnitee  demanding
such  indemnification  (the "30-Day  Period") (i) the Reviewing Party determines
that Indemnitee  substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole
or in part under  applicable  law or makes no  determination  in that regard or,
(ii) Indemnitee shall not have received full  indemnification  from the Company,
Indemnitee shall have the right to commence  litigation  seeking a determination
by a court of competent  jurisdiction  as to the  propriety  of  indemnification
under the circumstances  involved or challenging any such determination (or lack
thereof) by the Reviewing  Party or any aspect  thereof,  including the legal or
factual  bases  therefor or the failure of the  Company to fully  indemnify  the
Indemnitee,  and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear
in any such  proceeding and hereby appoints the Secretary of the Company (or, if
such office is not filled at a time in question,  any Assistant

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

Secretary of the Company or, if such office is not filled at a time in question,
any Vice President of the Company - each, a "Service Receiver") as its agent for
such service of process.  Any determination by the Reviewing Party not otherwise
so challenged shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

         (c) Change in Control.  The Company agrees that if there is a Change in
Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of
the Company's  Board of Directors who were directors  immediately  prior to such
Change in  Control),  then,  with  respect  to all  matters  thereafter  arising
concerning the rights of Indemnitee to payments of Expenses and Expense Advances
under this Agreement or any other  agreement or under the Company's  Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws as now or hereafter in effect, the Company shall seek
legal advice only from the Independent Legal Counsel. Such counsel,  among other
things,  shall render its written  opinion to the Company and  Indemnitee  as to
whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Legal Counsel  referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any
and all expenses (including  attorneys' fees),  claims,  liabilities and damages
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

         (d) Mandatory Payment of Expenses.  Notwithstanding any other provision
of this  Agreement,  to the extent that  Indemnitee  has been  successful on the
merits or otherwise,  including,  without limitation, the dismissal of an action
without prejudice, in connection with any Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified
against  all  Expenses  actually  and  reasonably   incurred  by  Indemnitee  in
connection therewith.

         2. Expenses; Indemnification Procedure.

         (a)  Advancement  of Expenses.  The Company  shall advance all Expenses
incurred  by  Indemnitee  so that  the  Company,  and not  Indemnitee,  shall be
obligated  to pay such  incurred  Expenses.  The advances of Expenses to be made
hereunder shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee as soon as practicable, but
in any event no later  than five (5) days  after  written  demand by  Indemnitee
therefor to the Company.

         (b)  Notice and  Cooperation  by  Indemnitee.  Indemnitee  shall,  as a
condition   precedent  to  Indemnitee's  right  to  be  indemnified  under  this
Agreement,  give the  Company  notice in writing as soon as  practicable  of any
Claim made against Indemnitee for which  indemnification will or could be sought
under this  Agreement;  but the  Indemnitee's  failure to so notify the  Company
shall not relieve the Company from any liability  that it may have to Indemnitee
under this Agreement, except to the extent that the Company is able to establish
that its  ability  to avoid  liability  under  such  Claim was  prejudiced  in a
material  respect by such failure.  Notice to the Company shall be directed to a
Service  Receiver at the address of the Company shown on the  signature  page of
this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall  designate in writing
to Indemnitee).  In addition,  Indemnitee  shall, at the expense of the Company,
provide the Company  with such  information  and  cooperation  with respect to a
Claim,  or any matters  related to such Claim,  as it may reasonably  require in
connection with the  indemnification  provided for herein and as shall be within
Indemnitee's  power.  Any  costs  or  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees and
disbursements)  actually and reasonably incurred by

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne by the Company  (irrespective of the
determination as to Indemnitee's  entitlement to  indemnification),  which shall
pay any such amount within fifteen (15) days after receiving a request  therefor
from  Indemnitee,  and  the  Company  hereby  indemnifies  and  agrees  to  hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

         (c) No  Presumptions;  Burden of Proof. For purposes of this Agreement,
the  termination of any Claim by judgment,  order,  settlement  (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its
equivalent,  shall not create a  presumption  that  Indemnitee  did not meet any
particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition,
neither the failure of the Reviewing  Party to have made a  determination  as to
whether  Indemnitee  has met  any  particular  standard  of  conduct  or had any
particular  belief,  nor an actual  determination  by the  Reviewing  Party that
Indemnitee  has not met such  standard  of conduct or did not have such  belief,
prior to the  commencement  of  legal  proceedings  by  Indemnitee  to  secure a
judicial  determination  that Indemnitee  should be indemnified under applicable
law, shall be a defense to a claim for  indemnification by Indemnitee  hereunder
or create a presumption  that Indemnitee has not met any particular  standard of
conduct  or  did  not  have  any  particular  belief.  In  connection  with  any
determination  by the Reviewing  Party or otherwise as to whether  Indemnitee is
entitled  to be  indemnified  hereunder,  the  burden  of proof  shall be on the
Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.

         (d) Notice to  Insurers.  If, at the time of the receipt by the Company
of a notice of a Claim  pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof,  the Company has one or
more policies of liability  insurance in effect which may cover such Claim,  the
Company  shall  give  prompt  notice of the  commencement  of such  Claim to the
applicable  insurer(s)  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  set  forth in the
applicable  policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all action necessary or
desirable to cause such  insurers to pay, on behalf of  Indemnitee,  all amounts
payable as a result of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such policies.

         (e)  Selection  of  Counsel.  In the event  that the  Company  shall be
obligated  hereunder to pay the Expenses with respect to any Claim, the Company,
except as otherwise  provided below,  shall be entitled to assume the defense of
such Claim at its own expense  with  counsel  approved by  Indemnitee,  upon the
delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election so to do.  Indemnitee's
approval of such counsel shall not be unreasonably  withheld.  After delivery of
such notice,  approval of such counsel by  Indemnitee  and the retention of such
counsel by the Company,  the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee  under
this Agreement for any fees of counsel  subsequently  incurred by the Indemnitee
with respect to such Claim, other than as provided below.  Indemnitee shall have
the right to employ Indemnitee's own counsel in connection with a Claim, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after written notice from the Company
of its assumption of the defense  thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee,
unless  (i)  the  employment  of  counsel  by  Indemnitee  has  been  previously
authorized  by the  Company,  or,  following  a Change in Control  (other than a
Change  in  Control  approved  by a  majority  of the  members  of the  Board of
Directors who were directors  immediately prior to such Change in Control),  the
employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been approved by the  Independent  Legal
Counsel,  (ii) Indemnitee  shall have  reasonably  concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest  between the Company and  Indemnitee  in the conduct of any
such defense, or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed or retained
or

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

continued  to employ or retain  counsel to assume the defense of such Claim,  in
each of which cases the fees and expenses of  Indemnitee's  counsel  shall be at
the  expense of the  Company.  The  Company  shall not be  entitled to assume or
control the defense of any Claim brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to
which the Indemnitee has reached the conclusion  that there may be a conflict of
interest  between the Company and  Indemnitee.  The Company shall not settle any
Claim in any manner which would impose any penalty or  limitation  on Indemnitee
without  the   Indemnitee's   written  consent  (which  approval  shall  not  be
unreasonably withheld).

         (f)  Settlement  of  Claims.  The  Company  shall  not be  required  to
indemnify  Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of
any Claim effected  without the Company's  written consent;  provided,  however,
that  consent  by the  Company  to the  settlement  of any  claim  shall  not be
unreasonably  withheld.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  however, if a Change in
Control has occurred  (other than a Change in Control  approved by a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors who were  directors  immediately  prior to
such  Change in  Control),  then the  Company  shall be  required  to  indemnify
Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if the Independent  Legal
Counsel  has  approved  such  settlement  or has not made a  determination  with
respect to such  settlement  within (30) days after the  effective  date of such
Change in Control.

         3. Additional Indemnification Rights; Non-Exclusivity.

                  (a) Scope.  The Company hereby agrees to indemnify  Indemnitee
to  the   fullest   extent   permitted   by  law,   notwithstanding   that  such
indemnification is not specifically  authorized by the Company's  Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any change after the date
of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right
of the Company to indemnify  Indemnitee,  it is the intent of the parties hereto
that Indemnitee shall enjoy under this Agreement the greater  benefits  afforded
by such change.  In the event of any change in any  applicable  law,  statute or
rule which  narrows the right of the Company to indemnify the  Indemnitee,  such
change, to the extent not otherwise  required by such law, statute or rule to be
applied  to this  Agreement,  shall  have no  effect  on this  Agreement  or the
parties' rights and obligations hereunder.

                  (b)  Non-Exclusivity.  The  indemnification  provided  by this
Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled
under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, any agreement,  vote
of  stockholders  or  directors,  the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of
Delaware, or otherwise.  The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall
continue  as to  Indemnitee  for any  Indemnifiable  Event  while  serving in an
Indemnified  Capacity  even though  Indemnitee  may have ceased to serve in such
Indemnified Capacity.

         4. No  Duplication  of Payments.  The Company shall not be liable under
this  Agreement to make any payment in  connection  with any Claim to the extent
Indemnitee has otherwise  actually  received payment (under any insurance policy
or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

         5.  Partial  Indemnification.  If  Indemnitee  is  entitled  under  any
provision of this Agreement to  indemnification  by the Company for a portion of
any of the Expenses in

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

connection with the  investigation,  appeal or settlement of any Claim,  but not
for  the  total  amount  thereof,  the  Company  shall  nevertheless   indemnify
Indemnitee for such portion of the Expenses.

         6. Mutual  Acknowledgment.  Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that,  in certain  instances,  applicable  law or public policy may prohibit the
Company  from  indemnifying   Indemnitee  under  this  Agreement  or  otherwise.
Indemnitee  understands and acknowledges  that the Company has undertaken or may
be  required  in the  future  to  undertake  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  to submit  the  question  of  indemnification  to a court in certain
circumstances  for a determination of the Company's right under public policy to
indemnify Indemnitee.

         7. Liability Insurance.  To the extent the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate  maintains  liability  insurance  applicable to  directors,  officers,
managers,  employees,  agents,  representatives or fiduciaries of the Company or
such Subsidiary or Affiliate (collectively,  the "Covered Persons"),  Indemnitee
shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide  Indemnitee the
same rights and  benefits as are accorded to the most  favorably  insured of the
Covered  Persons who is then serving in the same capacity or capacities,  as the
case may be, as Indemnitee.

         8.   Exceptions.   Any  other   provision   herein   to  the   contrary
notwithstanding,  the Company  shall not be  obligated  pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement:

                  (a) Excluded Action or Omissions.  To indemnify Indemnitee for
any  Expenses  resulting  from  acts,   omissions  or  transactions  from  which
Indemnitee  may not be  indemnified  under  applicable  law, or for any Expenses
resulting  from  Indemnitee's  conduct  which is finally  adjudged  to have been
willful misconduct or knowingly fraudulent conduct;

                  (b) Claims  Initiated by  Indemnitee.  To indemnify or advance
Expenses to Indemnitee with respect to Claims  initiated or brought  voluntarily
by  Indemnitee  and not by way of  defense,  regardless  of  whether  Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advance
or  insurance  recovery,  as the  case  may  be,  except  (i)  with  respect  to
proceedings  brought to  establish  or enforce  (a) a right to, or for,  Expense
Advances  and/or,  as the case may be, (b) any other right of  Indemnitee  under
this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company's
Certificate  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws now or  hereafter  in effect,  (ii) in
specific  cases,  if the Board of  Directors  has  approved  the  initiation  or
bringing of such suit or (iii) as otherwise  required  under  applicable  law or
statute;

                  (c)  Lack of  Good  Faith.  To  indemnify  Indemnitee  for any
Expenses  incurred by Indemnitee  with respect to any  proceeding  instituted by
Indemnitee  to enforce or  interpret  this  Agreement,  if a court of  competent
jurisdiction  determines  that  each  of the  material  assertions  made  by the
Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous; or

                  (d) Claims Under Section  16(b).  To indemnify  Indemnitee for
Expenses and the payment of profits  arising from the purchase and sale or, sale
and  purchase,  by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or any similar
successor statute.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

         9. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause
of action  shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company  with  respect to
the matters  addressed in this Agreement  against  Indemnitee,  or  Indemnitee's
estate,  spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the
expiration of two(2) years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and
any claim or cause of action of the  Company  shall be  extinguished  and deemed
released  unless  asserted by the timely  filing of a legal  action  within such
two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is
otherwise  applicable  to any such cause of action,  such  shorter  period shall
govern.

         10. Construction of Certain Phrases.

                  (a) Company. For purposes of this Agreement, references to the
"Company" shall include,  in addition to the resulting  entity,  any constituent
entity (including any constituent of a constituent)  absorbed in a consolidation
or merger which, if its separate  existence had continued,  would have had power
and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, managers, employees, agents,
representation  or  fiduciaries,  so that if  Indemnitee  is or was a  director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation,  or is or
was  serving  at the  request of such  constituent  corporation  as a  director,
officer,  manager,  employee, agent or fiduciary of an Other Entity,  Indemnitee
shall stand in the same position  under the  provisions of this  Agreement  with
respect to the resulting or surviving entity as Indemnitee would have stood with
respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.  The
consummation of any transaction described in this Section 10(a) shall be subject
to the requirements of Section 12, below.

                  (b)  Miscellaneous  Terms.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,
references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with
respect to an employee  benefit plan;  and references to "serving at the request
of the Company or any  Subsidiary or Affiliate" or words of similar import shall
include  any  service  as  a  director,   officer,  manager,   employee,  agent,
representative  or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director, officer, manager, employee, representative, agent or
fiduciary with respect to an employee  benefit plan, or its  participants or its
beneficiaries;  and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee
reasonably  believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an  employee  benefit  plan,  Indemnitee  shall be deemed to have  acted in a
manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this
Agreement or under any applicable law or statute.

                  (c) Change in  Control.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  a
"Change in Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person"  (as
such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a
trustee or other fiduciary holding  securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of
the  Company,  is or becomes  the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the  Exchange  Act),  directly or  indirectly,  of Voting  Securities  (as
defined below) of the Company representing more than twenty percent (20%) of the
total  voting  power  represented  by  the  Company's  then  outstanding  Voting
Securities, (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who
at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company
and any new  director  (other  than a  director  designated  by a person who has
entered

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction  described in clauses
(i),  (iii)  and (iv) of this  Section  10(c))  whose  election  by the Board of
Directors or nomination for election by the Company's  stockholders was approved
by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either  were  directors  at the  beginning  of the period or whose  election  or
nomination  for election  was  previously  so approved,  cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof,  or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve
a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a
merger or  consolidation  which  would  result in the Voting  Securities  of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining  outstanding  or by being  converted  into  Voting  Securities  of the
surviving  entity) at least 80% of the total  voting  power of the  resulting or
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation,  or
(iv) the  stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete  liquidation of
the Company or an agreement for the sale or  disposition  by the Company (in one
transaction  or a series of  transactions)  of all or  substantially  all of the
Company's assets. For purposes of this Agreement, "Voting Securities" shall mean
any securities the holders of which vote generally in the election of directors.

                  (d) Independent Legal Counsel. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Independent  Legal  Counsel"  shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys,  who
shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within
the then prior three years  (other than with respect to matters  concerning  the
rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnity  agreements)  selected by the Company and  approved by  Indemnitee  in
writing, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  the term  "Independent  Legal Counsel" shall not include any firm or
person  who,  under  the  applicable  standards  of  professional  conduct  then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine  Indemnitee's  right to  indemnification
under this Agreement.

                  (e)  Reviewing  Party.  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  a
"Reviewing Party" shall mean (i) any person or group of persons  consisting of a
member or members of the Company's  Board of Directors  and/or,  as the case may
be, or any other person  appointed by the Board of Directors  who is not a party
to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or (ii)
Independent Legal Counsel.

         11.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  one or  more
counterparts,  each of which  shall  constitute  an  original  and all of which,
together, shall constitute one and the same document.

         12. Binding  Effect;  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall be
binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by the  parties
hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, heirs and personal
and legal representatives. The Company may not assign its obligations under this
Agreement to any  individual  or entity  except by operation of law to an entity
acquiring all or substantially  all of the business and/or,  as the case may be,
assets of the Company (a  "Successor")  and, in any such case, the Company shall
continue to be  obligated  hereunder.  The Company  shall  require and cause any
Successor by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee,
expressly to assume and agree to perform  this  Agreement in the same manner and
to the same  extent  that the  Company  would be  required to perform if no such
succession had taken place.  This Agreement shall

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

continue in effect  regardless  of whether  Indemnitee  continues to serve in an
Indemnified Capacity.

         13.  Attorneys'  Fees.  In the event that any action is  instituted  by
Indemnitee in a court of competent  jurisdiction  under this  Agreement or under
any  liability  insurance  policies  maintained  by the Company to  enforce,  or
interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be
paid all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee with respect to
such action,  regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately  successful in such
action,  and shall be  entitled  to an  advance of such  Expenses  in the manner
provided in Section 2 (a), above, with respect to such action, unless, as a part
of such action,  the court in which such action is brought  determines that each
of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not
made in good faith or was frivolous.  In the event of an action instituted by or
in the name of the Company  under this  Agreement to enforce or interpret any of
the  terms  of this  Agreement,  Indemnitee  shall  be  entitled  to be paid all
Expenses  actually  and  reasonably  incurred by  Indemnitee  in defense of such
action  (including  costs and expenses  incurred  with  respect to  Indemnitee's
counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), and shall be entitled to an
advance of such Expenses in the manner  provided in Section 2 (a),  above,  with
respect to such  action,  unless as a part of such action such court  determines
that each of  Indemnitee's  material  defenses  to such  action were made in bad
faith or were frivolous.

         14. Notice.  Any notices or demands given in connection  herewith shall
be in  writing  and  deemed  given when (a)  personally  delivered,  (b) sent by
facsimile  transmission  to a number  provided in writing by the addressee and a
confirmation  of the  transmission is received by the sender or (c) two (2) days
after being deposited for delivery with a recognized overnight courier,  such as
Fed Ex, and  addressed or sent,  as the case may be, to the address or facsimile
number set forth  below or to such other  address  or  facsimile  number as such
party may in writing designate:

         If to Indemnitee:          Vincent W. Talbert
                                    8307 Tally Ho Road
                                    Lutherville, MD  21093

         If to Company:             Talk.com Inc.
                                    12020 Sunrise Valley Drive
                                    Suite 250
                                    Reston, VA  20190
                                    Attn: Secretary

         15. Consent to  Jurisdiction.  The Company and  Indemnitee  each hereby
irrevocably  consent to the  jurisdiction  of the courts of the  Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania  for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which
arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action  instituted
under this  Agreement  shall be commenced,  prosecuted and continued only in the
courts  of  the   Commonwealth   of  Pennsylvania  in  and  for  the  County  of
Philadelphia,   which  shall  be  the   exclusive  and  only  proper  forum  for
adjudicating such a claim.

         16.  Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable
in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single  section,  paragraph  or  sentence)  are  held  by a court  of  competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

unenforceable,  and the remaining  provisions  shall remain  enforceable  to the
fullest extent  permitted by law.  Furthermore,  to the fullest extent possible,
the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of
this Agreement  containing  any provision held to be invalid,  void or otherwise
unenforceable,  that is not itself  held to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable)
shall  be  construed  so as to  give  effect  to the  intent  manifested  by the
provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

         17.  Choice  of  Law.  This  Agreement  shall  be  governed  by and its
provisions  construed and enforced in  accordance  with the laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

         18. Subrogation. In the event of payment to, or on behalf of Indemnitee
under this  Agreement,  the Company  shall be  subrogated  to the extent of such
payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee,  who shall, at Company's
expense,  execute  all  documents  required  and  shall do all acts  that may be
necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company  effectively  to bring
suit to enforce such rights.

         19. Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification,  termination
or  cancellation  of this Agreement  shall be effective  unless it is in writing
signed by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement  shall be  deemed  to,  or shall  constitute  a waiver  of,  any other
provisions  hereof  (whether  or not  similar  thereto),  nor shall such  waiver
constitute a continuing  waiver.  Except as  specifically  set forth herein,  no
failure to exercise,  or any delay in exercising,  any right or remedy hereunder
shall constitute a waiver thereof.

         20.  Integration  and Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the
entire  understanding  between the parties  hereto and  supersedes  all previous
written  and  oral  negotiations,  commitments,  understandings  and  agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.

         21. No Construction as Employment Agreement.  Nothing contained in this
Agreement  shall be construed as giving  Indemnitee  any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any Subsidiaries.

         22.  Certain  Words.  As used in this  Agreement,  the words  "herein,"
"hereunder,"  "hereof"  and  similar  words  shall  be  deemed  to refer to this
Agreement in its entirety, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                          TALK.COM  INC.

                                          By: Alyosius T. Lawn
                                              ---------------------------------
                                          Title: General Counsel and Secretary
                                                --------------------------------






AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED

INDEMNITEE:


/s/ Vincent W. Talbert
- ---------------------------------
 Vincent W. Talbert



                                      -11-



                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


To:               Vincent W. Talbert ("Employee")
                  -----------------------------------------
                                  Name

                  8307 Tally Ho Road Lutherville, MD  21093
                  -----------------------------------------
                                  Address

Date of Grant:    June 8, 1999
                ----------------------
Exercise Price:   $10 1/8 per share
                ----------------------

         Employee is hereby granted the option described below,  effective as of
the above date of grant, to purchase shares of common stock,  $.01 par value per
share ("Stock"),  of Talk.com,  Inc. (the "Company") at the exercise price shown
above.  Capitalized  terms used  herein  without  definition  have the  meanings
assigned in the employment agreement dated as of the above date of grant between
the Company, Talk.com Holding Corp. and Employee (the "Employment Agreement").

         1. Employee is hereby  granted  options to purchase  350,000  shares of
Stock (the  "Option").  The Option  shall have an  exercise  price  equal to ten
dollars and 1/8  ($10.125)  per share (the  "Exercise  Price")  and,  subject to
Section 2, below,  shall vest with respect to the indicated  number of shares of
Stock according to the following schedule:

                  (a) one hundred thousand  (100,000) shares of Stock shall vest
and  become  exercisable  upon the  date  that  Employee  makes  the  Employment
Presentment.

                  (b) one hundred twenty-five thousand (125,000) shares of Stock
shall  vest and become  exercisable  upon the first  anniversary  of the date of
grant.

                  (c) one hundred twenty-five  thousand (125,000 shares of Stock
shall vest and become  exercisable  upon the second  anniversary  of the date of
grant.

                  (d)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  (i) any  portion of the
Option that was not previously  vested and exercisable shall become fully vested
and  exercisable on the effective  date of any  termination of the employment of
Employee under the Employment Agreement by the Company without Cause (as defined
in Section 6.3 of the  Employment  Agreement) or by Employee for Good Reason (as
defined in Section  6.4(b) of the  Employment  Agreement)  and (ii) the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") or its designees may  accelerate or waive
the aforesaid  scheduled  vesting dates with respect to any or all of the shares
of Stock covered by the Option.


<PAGE>

         2. In the event of a "Change in Control" (as hereafter  defined) of the
Company,  any  portion  of  the  Option  that  was  not  previously  vested  and
exercisable on the effective  date of the Change in Control,  shall become fully
vested and  exercisable  on such  effective  date of such Change in  Control.  A
"Change in Control"  shall be deemed to have  occurred upon the happening of any
of the following events:

                  (a)      any Person (as defined in Section  3(a)(9)  under the
                           Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the
                           "Exchange Act")), other than the Company, becomes the
                           Beneficial  Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
                           Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,  of securities
                           of the  Company  or any  Significant  Subsidiary  (as
                           defined  below)  representing  fifty percent (50%) or
                           more of the combined  voting power of the  Company's,
                           or such Significant Subsidiary's, as the case may be,
                           then outstanding securities;  provided, that a Person
                           shall be  deemed  to be the  Beneficial  Owner of all
                           shares  that any such Person has the right to acquire
                           pursuant  to any  agreement  or  arrangement  or upon
                           exercise of conversion rights,  warrants,  options or
                           otherwise,  without  regard  to  the  sixty  (60)-day
                           period  referred to in Rule 13d-3 under the  Exchange
                           Act);

                  (b)      during any period of two  years,  individuals  who at
                           the beginning of such period constitute the Board and
                           any new director (other than a director designated by
                           a person who has entered into an  agreement  with the
                           Company to effect a transaction  described in clauses
                           (a), (b) or (d) of this Section 2) whose  election by
                           the Board or nomination for election by  stockholders
                           was approved by a vote of at least  two-thirds  (2/3)
                           of the directors then still in office who either were
                           directors at the beginning of the two-year  period or
                           whose   election  or  nomination   for  election  was
                           previously  so  approved,   but  excluding  for  this
                           purpose   any  such  new   director   whose   initial
                           assumption  of office occurs as a result of either an
                           actual or threatened election contest or other actual
                           or threatened  solicitation of proxies or consents by
                           or  on   behalf   of  an   individual,   corporation,
                           partnership, group, association or other entity other
                           than the Board, cease for any reason to constitute at
                           least  a  majority  of the  Board  of  either  or the
                           Company or a Significant Subsidiary;

                  (c)      the  consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
                           Company  or  any  subsidiary  of the  Company  owning
                           directly or indirectly  all or  substantially  all of
                           the   consolidated   assets   of  the   Company  (  a
                           "Significant  Subsidiary")  with  any  other  entity,
                           other  than a merger  or  consolidation  which  would
                           result in the voting  securities  of the Company or a
                           Significant Subsidiary outstanding  immediately prior
                           thereto  continuing  to  represent  more  than  fifty
                           percent  (50%) of the  combined  voting  power of the
                           surviving or resulting entity outstanding immediately
                           after such merger or consolidation;

                  (d)      the  shareholders  of the  Company  approve a plan or
                           agreement  for  the  sale  or  disposition  of  fifty
                           percent (50%) or more of the  consolidated  assets of
                           the Company in which case the Board  shall  determine
                           the effective date of the

                                       2

<PAGE>

                           Change of Control resulting therefrom;

                  (e)      any other event occurs which the Board determines, in
                           its discretion, would materially alter, the structure
                           of the Company or its ownership; and


                  (f)      a person  other than  Gabriel  Battista is elected by
                           the  Board of  Directors  to  serve as the  Company's
                           principal executive officer.

         3.  Employee may exercise  the Option by giving  written  notice to the
Secretary of the Company on forms  supplied by the Company at its then principal
executive  office,  accompanied  by payment of the Exercise  Price for the total
number of shares  specified to be  purchased by Employee.  The payment may be in
any of the  following  forms:  (a) cash,  which may be  evidenced by a check and
includes cash received from a so-called  "cashless  exercise" of the Option; (b)
certificates  representing  shares  of Stock,  which  will be valued at the fair
market value (as defined in the Employment  Agreement) per share of the Stock on
the date of the Option  exercise in question,  accompanied  by an  assignment of
such Stock to the Company;  or (c) any  combination  of cash and Stock valued as
provided in clause (b), immediately above. Any assignment of Stock shall be in a
form and  substance  satisfactory  to the  Secretary of the  Company,  including
guarantees of  signature(s)  and payment of all transfer taxes, if the Secretary
of the Company deems such guarantees necessary or desirable.

         4. The Option will, to the extent not previously exercised by Employee,
expire on June 8, 2009.

         5. In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Stock by
reason of a stock  dividend,  stock  split,  consolidation,  transfer of assets,
reorganization,  conversion or what the Board deems in its reasonable discretion
to be similar  circumstances,  the number and kind of shares of Stock subject to
the Option and the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted in a manner to
be determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board.

         6. The Option is not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution,  and is exercisable during Employee's lifetime only by
Employee, including, for this purpose, Employee's legal guardian or custodian in
the event of the disability of Employee.  Until the Exercise Price has been paid
in full pursuant to due exercise of this Option and certificate(s)  representing
Employee's  ownership of the purchased  shares are issued to Employee,  Employee
does not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company.  The Company  reserves
the right not to deliver to  Employee  the  certificate(s)  representing  shares
purchased by virtue of the  exercise of the Option  during any period of time in
which the Company deems, based on the written opinion of its counsel,  that such
delivery  would violate a federal,  state,  local or securities  exchange  rule,
regulation or law.

         7.  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  herein,  the
Option is not exercisable:

                  (a)  During  any  period of time in which the  Company  deems,
based on the written  opinion of its  counsel,  that the  exercisability  of the
Option, the offer to sell the shares underlying the Option, or the sale thereof,
would violate a federal, state, local or securities exchange rule, regulation

                                       3

<PAGE>

or law; or

                  (b) Until Employee has paid or made suitable  arrangements  to
pay all federal,  state and local income tax withholding required to be withheld
by the Company in connection with the Option exercise.

         8. The following two  paragraphs  shall be applicable  if, on a date of
exercise of the Option,  the Stock to be purchased pursuant to such exercise has
not been  registered  under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
and under  applicable state securities laws, and shall continue to be applicable
for so long as such registration has not occurred:

                  (a) Employee  hereby agrees,  warrants and represents  that he
will acquire the Stock to be issued hereunder for his own account for investment
purposes  only,  and not with a view to, or in  connection  with,  any resale or
other distribution of any shares of such Stock,  except as hereafter  permitted.
Employee  further  agrees  that he will not at any time  make any  offer,  sale,
transfer,  pledge or other  disposition  of such  Stock to be  issued  hereunder
without  an  effective  registration  statement  under  the Act,  and  under any
applicable  state  securities  laws or an opinion of counsel  acceptable  to the
Company to the effect  that the  proposed  transaction  will be exempt from such
registration.   Employee  shall  execute  such   instruments,   representations,
acknowledgments and agreements as the Company may, in its sole discretion,  deem
advisable to avoid any violation of federal, state, local or securities exchange
rule, regulation or law.

                  (b) The  certificates  for  Stock  to be  issued  to  Employee
hereunder shall bear the following legend:

                           "The shares  represented by this certificate have not
                  been registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
                  or under  applicable  state  securities  laws. The shares have
                  been  acquired for  investment  and may not be offered,  sold,
                  transferred,  pledged  or  otherwise  disposed  of  without an
                  effective  registration  statement under the Securities Act of
                  1933, as amended,  and under any applicable  state  securities
                  laws or an opinion of counsel  acceptable  to the Company that
                  the   proposed   transaction   will  be   exempt   from   such
                  registration."

The foregoing  legend shall be removed upon  registration of the legended shares
under the Act and under any applicable  state laws or upon receipt of an opinion
of  counsel  acceptable  to the  Company  that  said  registration  is no longer
required.

         9. The sole purpose of the agreements, warranties,  representations and
legend  set forth in the two  immediately  preceding  paragraphs  is to  prevent
violations of the Act, and any applicable state securities laws.

         10. It is the  intention  of the Company and  Employee  that the Option
shall not be an "Incentive  Stock Option" as that term is used in Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  and the regulations  thereunder.
The Option is not granted pursuant to any stock option plan.

                                       4

<PAGE>

         11. This agreement and the Employment  Agreement  constitute the entire
understanding  between  the  Company and  Employee  with  respect to the subject
matter hereof and no amendment,  modification  or waiver of this  agreement,  in
whole or in part,  shall be  binding  upon the  Company  or  Employee  unless in
writing and signed by the Executive  Vice President of the Company and Employee.
This agreement and the performances of the parties  hereunder shall be construed
in  accordance   with,  and  governed  by  the  laws  of,  the  Commonwealth  of
Pennsylvania.

         Employee  shall  sign a copy of this  agreement  and  return  it to the
Company's  Secretary,   thereby  indicating  Employee's  understanding  of,  and
agreement with its terms and conditions.

                                                  TALK.COM INC,



                                                  By: /s/ Alyosius T. Lawn
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      Alyosius T. Lawn
                                                      General Counsel and
                                                        Secretary

                                       5

<PAGE>

I hereby  acknowledge  receipt of a copy of the foregoing stock option agreement
and, having read it, hereby signify my understanding  of, and my agreement with,
its terms and conditions.




/s/ Vincent W. Talbert                                          June  ,1999
- ------------------------------------                          ------------------
 Vincent W. Talbert                                                (Date)



                                       6



                                                                      EXHIBIT 11


                         TALK.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      FOR  THE  THREE  MONTHS              FOR THE SIX MONTHS
                                                                          ENDED JUNE 30,                     ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     1999              1998             1999               1998
<S>                                                                <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Income (loss) before extraordinary gain                         $14,038          $(96,154)         $26,372          $(137,949)
    Extraordinary gain                                                  --                 --           18,997                  --
                                                                 ------------       -----------     ------------       -----------
    Net income (loss)                                               $14,038          $(96,154)         $45,369          $(137,949)
                                                                 ============       ===========     ============       ===========
    BASIC

    Weighted average common shares outstanding - Basic:              60,422            64,486           59,670             64,320
                                                                 ============       ===========      ===========         ==========
    Income (loss) before extraordinary gain                          $ 0.23           $ (1.49)          $ 0.44           $  (2.14)
    Extraordinary gain                                                  --                 --             0.32                  --
                                                                 ------------       -----------      -----------         ----------
    Net income (loss)                                                $ 0.23           $ (1.49)          $ 0.76           $  (2.14)
                                                                 ============       ===========      ===========         ==========
    DILUTED

    Weighted average common and common equivalent
      shares  outstanding - Diluted:
    Weighted average shares                                          60,422            64,486           59,670             64,320
    Effect of assumed conversion of common stock options              2,938                --            3,224                  --
                                                                 ------------       -----------      -----------         ----------
    Weighted average common and common equivalent
      shares - Diluted                                               63,360            64,486           62,894             64,320
                                                                 ============       ===========      ===========         ==========
    Income (loss) before extraordinary gain                          $ 0.22           $ (1.49)          $ 0.42            $ (2.14)
    Extraordinary gain                                                  --                 --             0.30                  --
                                                                 ------------      ------------      -----------         ----------
    Net income (loss)                                                $ 0.22           $ (1.49)          $ 0.72            $ (2.14)
                                                                 ============      ============      ===========         ==========

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
          THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM
THE UNAUDITED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1999 AND THE UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT  OF INCOME  FOR THE SIX MONTHS  ENDED  JUNE 30,  1999 OF
TALK.COM INC. AND  SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         000948545
<NAME>                        TALK.COM
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US DOLLARS

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                     $37,114,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               47,358,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 1,342,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            91,906,000
<PP&E>                                      67,113,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              10,434,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             156,130,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       56,684,000
<BONDS>                                     94,285,000
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       669,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 (52,149,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               156,130,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           227,711,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              148,116,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            52,261,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,092,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             26,372,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         26,372,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             18,997,000
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                45,369,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.72


</TABLE>


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