<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JUL-01-1998             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                               0                       0                       0               1,190,116
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0              35,279,361
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0                       0              21,567,452
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0             (3,298,204)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0               8,468,529
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0               2,298,451
<PP&E>                                               0                       0                       0              21,468,434
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0             (3,569,956)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0                       0                       0             199,268,853
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0                       0              43,599,003
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0             154,595,296
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                       0              27,327,104
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                       0                       0            (29,030,369)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0                       0                       0                       0
<SALES>                                      2,319,348              11,591,660               3,954,625              21,866,745
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,142,662              22,316,402               5,761,054              36,821,105
<CGS>                                        1,857,814               9,117,972              17,397,145               3,019,728
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,208,277              14,717,364               3,945,154              25,287,038
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             3,703,125              18,230,879               7,290,274              33,943,101
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                 755,862
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              66,476               5,868,531                  74,951              11,751,121
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (2,817,568)            (15,355,480)             (5,487,744)            (31,634,867)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (2,817,568)            (15,355,480)             (5,487,744)            (31,634,867)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (2,817,568)            (15,355,480)             (5,487,744)            (31,634,867)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      (0)                     (1)                  (0.29)                  (1.16)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      (0)                     (1)                  (0.29)                  (1.16)
        

</TABLE>