<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS IN THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 13,374 <SECURITIES> 11,739 <RECEIVABLES> 12,807 <ALLOWANCES> 1,647 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 37,965 <PP&E> 6,795 <DEPRECIATION> 3,805 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,298 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,907 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 39,047 <OTHER-SE> (5,843) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 41,298 <SALES> 26,394 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 26,394 <CGS> 2,663 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,068 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 21,359 <LOSS-PROVISION> 211 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (1,010) <INCOME-PRETAX> 668 <INCOME-TAX> 185 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 483 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 483 <EPS-PRIMARY> .06 <EPS-DILUTED> .06