<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         143,083
<SECURITIES>                                    79,001
<RECEIVABLES>                                  244,025
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,368
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               511,857
<PP&E>                                         116,670
<DEPRECIATION>                                  62,862
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 840,180
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          386,528
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            57
<OTHER-SE>                                     452,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   840,180
<SALES>                                        190,380
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               190,380
<CGS>                                           79,350
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   79,350
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                65,288
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   923
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 48,218
<INCOME-TAX>                                    18,130
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             30,088
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,088
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.30<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.29
        
<FN>
<F1>Amount reported is EPS-BASIC.
</FN>