<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (a) the Company's September 30, 1996 financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such (b) financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,032 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 15,578 <ALLOWANCES> 180 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 21,836 <PP&E> 3,662 <DEPRECIATION> 1,447 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 24,455 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 14,180 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 1,053 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,456 <OTHER-SE> 6,513 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 24,455 <SALES> 28,564 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 28,564 <CGS> 3,249 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,249 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,241 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,091 <INCOME-TAX> 2,314 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,777 <EPS-PRIMARY> .20 <EPS-DILUTED> .20