<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 9,676,932 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 38,066,444 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 30,009,443 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 85,067,891 <PP&E> 23,297,609 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,018,448 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,613,512 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 146,887 <OTHER-SE> 98,258,049 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 119,018,448 <SALES> 82,629,437 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 82,629,437 <CGS> 43,694,943 <TOTAL-COSTS> 39,983,902 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 13,580,952<F1> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (14,404,126) <INCOME-TAX> (2,425,905) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (11,978,221) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (11,978,221) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.90) <EPS-DILUTED> (.90) <FN> <F1>AetherWork loss 3,109,470; Restructuring charge 10,471,482 </FN>