<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 211,204 <SECURITIES> 69,500 <RECEIVABLES> 238,241 <ALLOWANCES> 4,147 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 556,684 <PP&E> 132,350 <DEPRECIATION> 73,567 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 905,642 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 371,561 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 58 <OTHER-SE> 533,431 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 905,642 <SALES> 547,366 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 547,366 <CGS> 214,154 <TOTAL-COSTS> 214,154 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 209,722 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,159 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 131,138 <INCOME-TAX> 45,793 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 85,345 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 85,345 <EPS-BASIC> 0.83<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 0.80 <FN> <F1>Amount reported is EPS-BASIC </FN>