<ARTICLE> 5 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 MAR-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 1 <CASH> 46,511 24,657 <SECURITIES> 26,541 69,194 <RECEIVABLES> 89,424 64,220 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 186,708 175,834 <PP&E> 23,411 18,730 <DEPRECIATION> (7,793) (5,729) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 244,205 195,660 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 46,133 35,840 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 132,013 129,804 <OTHER-SE> 61,203 29,562 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 244,205 195,660 <SALES> 183,184 148,636 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 183,184 148,636 <CGS> 126,334 105,127 <TOTAL-COSTS> 126,334 105,127 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 30,707 24,163 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,647 20,621 <INCOME-TAX> 11,421 8,353 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,226 12,268 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,226 12,268 <EPS-BASIC> .77 .61 <EPS-DILUTED> .76 .60