<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      2
<CASH>                                         185,113
<SECURITIES>                                    71,364
<RECEIVABLES>                                  248,328
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,406
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               549,555
<PP&E>                                         124,538
<DEPRECIATION>                                  68,471
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 896,398
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          396,484
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            58
<OTHER-SE>                                     498,947
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   896,398
<SALES>                                        361,708
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               361,708
<CGS>                                          139,727
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  139,727
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               136,629
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,028
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 90,428
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,499
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             58,929
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,929
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.57<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.56
<FN>
<F1>Amount reported is EPS-BASIC
</FN>