<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1996             JUL-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1996             AUG-01-1995             AUG-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997             JUL-31-1996             JUL-31-1995
<CASH>                                          46,780                  44,584                  76,298
<SECURITIES>                                   349,119                 153,434                 121,477
<RECEIVABLES>                                   46,689                  54,424                  41,383
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (4,499)                 (4,951)                 (2,408)
<INVENTORY>                                      3,295                   4,448                   6,576
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               454,777                 280,413                 271,527
<PP&E>                                         154,004                 145,695                  79,339
<DEPRECIATION>                                (70,600)                (50,084)                (29,462)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 663,676                 418,020                 398,605
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          211,582                 110,689                 107,246
<BONDS>                                         36,444                   5,583                   8,770
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           469                     458                     445
<OTHER-SE>                                     414,592                 298,777                 279,954
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   663,676                 418,020                 398,605
<SALES>                                        598,925                 538,608                 419,160
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               598,925                 538,608                 419,160
<CGS>                                          137,281                 136,470                 110,322
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  138,770                 137,869                 121,691
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               460,195                 406,515                 362,510
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,308                   4,728                   2,105
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 652                     305                     232
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,809                   1,870                (20,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,741                  16,225                  24,296
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,932)                (14,355)                (44,296)
<DISCONTINUED>                                  71,240                 (6,344)                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    68,308                (20,699)                (44,296)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.47<F1>               (.46)<F1>              (1.07)<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.44<F2>               (.46)<F2>              (1.07)<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASIC EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128
<F2>DILUTED EPS AS DEFINED BY FAS 128
</FN>