<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                           3,763                   3,763
<SECURITIES>                                    74,538                  74,538
<RECEIVABLES>                                    6,344                   6,344
<ALLOWANCES>                                       547                     547
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                90,990                  90,990
<PP&E>                                          13,358                  13,358
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,196                   2,196
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 103,426                 103,426
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           13,555                  13,555
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           217                     217
<OTHER-SE>                                      89,114                  89,114
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   103,426                 103,426
<SALES>                                         13,090                  34,868
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                13,090                  34,868
<CGS>                                            4,341                  11,775
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    4,341                  11,775
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                19,040                  31,432
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   497                   1,570
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  21                     129
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,578)                 (6,652)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (3,941)                 (3,088)
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                      59
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,636)                 (3,623)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.23)                  (0.13)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.23)                  (0.13)