<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         201,236
<SECURITIES>                                     2,644
<RECEIVABLES>                                  410,341
<ALLOWANCES>                                    95,691
<INVENTORY>                                     30,249
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               616,097
<PP&E>                                         195,809
<DEPRECIATION>                                  26,582
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 936,490
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          292,288
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           611
<OTHER-SE>                                     640,642
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   936,490
<SALES>                                        944,139
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               944,139
<CGS>                                          495,660
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  495,660
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               372,535
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,428
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  32
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 86,451
<INCOME-TAX>                                    35,172
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             51,279
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    50,958
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.81