<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, JUNE 30, 1996 AND MARCH 31, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS IN THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, NINE MONTHS IN THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, SIX MONTHS IN THE PERIOD ENDED </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 9-MOS 6-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 SEP-30-1996 JUN-30-1996 MAR-30-1996 <CASH> 13,374 13,317 13,511 27,113 <SECURITIES> 11,739 12,475 12,518 0 <RECEIVABLES> 12,881 10,803 8,590 9,963 <ALLOWANCES> 1,647 1,169 1,093 993 <INVENTORY> 0 0 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 37,965 37,512 35,831 37,922 <PP&E> 6,795 6,357 4,361 3,367 <DEPRECIATION> 3,805 3,409 1,987 780 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,298 40,766 38,534 40,858 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 7,907 7,577 5,968 7,495 <BONDS> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 0 <COMMON> 39,047 39,034 38,940 39,063 <OTHER-SE> (5,843) (6,114) (6,674) (6,212) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 41,298 40,766 38,534 40,858 <SALES> 26,394 19,388 12,976 5,329 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 26,394 19,388 12,976 5,329 <CGS> 2,663 2,066 1,549 447 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,068 3,823 3,705 937 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 21,359 15,372 10,277 4,136 <LOSS-PROVISION> 223 102 102 32 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (1,010) (687) (361) (68) <INCOME-PRETAX> 668 649 291 306 <INCOME-TAX> 185 136 280 106 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 483 274 (15) 200 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 483 274 (15) 200 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.06 0.04 (0.00) 0.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.05 0.03 (0.00) 0.02