<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FRO THE 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000791027
<NAME>                        Tropic Communications, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                              2,068
<SECURITIES>                                            0
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<ALLOWANCES>                                       (2,500)
<INVENTORY>                                             0
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<DEPRECIATION>                                 (3,931,485)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    769,743
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<OTHER-SE>                                     (1,371,207)
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<SALES>                                                 0
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<CGS>                                                   0          
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<INCOME-TAX>                                            0
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<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,212,200)
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<EPS-DILUTED>                                       (0.59)