<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>                                    19,533                 (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>