<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 247,170 <SECURITIES> 1,447 <RECEIVABLES> 461,220 <ALLOWANCES> 83,300 <INVENTORY> 22,838 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 764,141 <PP&E> 356,318 <DEPRECIATION> 112,523 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,180,769 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 312,384 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 639 <OTHER-SE> 864,694 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,180,769 <SALES> 1,125,698 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,125,698 <CGS> 562,821 <TOTAL-COSTS> 562,821 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 410,493 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,427 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 164,037 <INCOME-TAX> 50,852 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 113,185 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 113,319 <EPS-BASIC> 1.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.72