<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                       

<PERIOD-TYPE>             6-MOS              3-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             JUL-31-1998        JUL-31-1998

<PERIOD-START>                AUG-01-1997        AUG-01-1997

<PERIOD-END>                  JAN-31-1998        OCT-31-1997

<CASH>                            105,532             63,950

<SECURITIES>                      537,228            397,679

<RECEIVABLES>                     175,427             93,111

<ALLOWANCES>                      (5,150)            (4,364)

<INVENTORY>                         4,811              3,888

<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  836,470            568,891

<PP&E>                            123,330            131,054

<DEPRECIATION>                   (52,756)           (60,145)

<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    977,081            759,288

<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             384,086            253,989

<BONDS>                            31,253             36,520

<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0                  0

<PREFERRED>                             0                  0

<COMMON>                              478                473

<OTHER-SE>                        560,964            467,781

<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      977,081            759,288

<SALES>                           333,471             95,958

<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  333,471             95,958

<CGS>                              67,875             22,396

<TOTAL-COSTS>                      69,228             23,099

<OTHER-EXPENSES>                  224,217             98,464

<LOSS-PROVISION>                    2,492                  0

<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    234                 81

<INCOME-PRETAX>                    48,618           (19,254)

<INCOME-TAX>                       19,583            (6,495)

<INCOME-CONTINUING>                29,085           (12,759)

<DISCONTINUED>                          0                  0

<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0                  0

<CHANGES>                               0                  0

<NET-INCOME>                       29,085           (12,759)

<EPS-PRIMARY>                        0.61<F1>          (.27)<F1>

<EPS-DILUTED>                        0.59<F2>          (.27)<F2>

<FN>
<F1>BASIC EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128.
<F2>DILUTED EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128.
</FN>