<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 107,287 <SECURITIES> 341,711 <RECEIVABLES> 140,798 <ALLOWANCES> 9,463 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 615,494 <PP&E> 169,707 <DEPRECIATION> 83,216 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 777,514 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 254,802 <BONDS> 5,270 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 648 <OTHER-SE> 511,594 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 777,514 <SALES> 174,212 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 174,212 <CGS> 23,492 <TOTAL-COSTS> 23,492 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 159,856 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 417 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4,195) <INCOME-TAX> 4,074 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,269) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 1,869 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (6,400) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.10) <EPS-DILUTED> (.10)