<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