<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>