<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                              

<PERIOD-TYPE>              9-MOS                6-MOS                3-MOS                9-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              JUL-31-1997          JUL-31-1997          JUL-31-1997          JUL-31-1996

<PERIOD-START>                 AUG-01-1996          AUG-01-1996          AUG-01-1996          AUG-01-1995

<PERIOD-END>                   APR-30-1997          JAN-31-1997          OCT-31-1996          APR-30-1996

<CASH>                             116,649              104,859               45,595               33,434

<SECURITIES>                       356,260              350,524              125,205              186,092

<RECEIVABLES>                       74,873              152,213               90,346               77,343

<ALLOWANCES>                       (7,025)              (5,936)              (5,974)              (4,852)

<INVENTORY>                          2,756                4,428                4,935                5,829

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   575,610              638,747              302,594              330,697

<PP&E>                             142,330              137,129              154,549              137,647

<DEPRECIATION>                    (63,896)             (58,205)             (57,380)             (42,110)

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     717,898              751,920              439,275              471,224

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              265,224              330,590              147,513              156,940

<BONDS>                             34,433                5,080                5,259                7,158

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    0                    0                    0                    0

<PREFERRED>                              0                    0                    0                    0

<COMMON>                               466                  465                  463              514,645

<OTHER-SE>                         412,704              413,078              283,219              304,126

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       717,898              751,920              439,275              471,224

<SALES>                            504,810              368,484              102,506              461,808

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   504,810              368,484              102,506              461,808

<CGS>                              114,583               85,666               27,045              117,393

<TOTAL-COSTS>                      115,263               85,820               27,085              119,651

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                   356,875              248,145              114,511              324,267

<LOSS-PROVISION>                     5,480                4,632                1,745                3,546

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     377                  259                   81                  229

<INCOME-PRETAX>                     39,284               38,325             (37,042)               23,280

<INCOME-TAX>                        22,400               21,929              (8,738)               22,000

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 16,884               16,396             (28,304)                1,280 

<DISCONTINUED>                      71,240               71,240                    0                    0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0                    0                    0                    0

<CHANGES>                                0                    0                    0                    0

<NET-INCOME>                        88,124               87,636             (28,304)                1,280

<EPS-PRIMARY>                         1.90<F1>             1.90<F1>           (0.61)<F1>             0.03<F1>

<EPS-DILUTED>                         1.86<F2>             1.85<F2>           (0.61)<F2>             0.03<F2>
                   
<FN>
<F1>BASIC EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128.
<F2>DILUTED EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128.
</FN>