<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          14,210                  30,237
<SECURITIES>                                    24,108                  36,211
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,682                  32,387
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,800                   1,600
<INVENTORY>                                      1,438                   1,063
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                79,248                 114,502
<PP&E>                                          35,289                  27,572
<DEPRECIATION>                                  14,962                   9,217
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 162,449                 189,629
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,939                  24,000
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           336                     265
<OTHER-SE>                                     138,101                 164,543
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   162,449                 189,629
<SALES>                                         62,837                  89,899
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                74,888                  99,205
<CGS>                                            4,704                   5,129
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   12,088                  12,072
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (38,474)                  41,912
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,473)                  15,496
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (37,001)                  26,416
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (70,800)                  21,923
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (2.47)                     .77