<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 19,635 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 7,912 <ALLOWANCES> 119 <INVENTORY> 73 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 29,500 <PP&E> 12,917 <DEPRECIATION> 6,052 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,251 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,026 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 56 <OTHER-SE> 31,817 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,251 <SALES> 7,453 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7,453 <CGS> 2,505 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,857 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (236) <INCOME-PRETAX> 832 <INCOME-TAX> 340 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 492 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 492 <EPS-PRIMARY> .09 <EPS-DILUTED> .09