<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                     453
<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>