<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 9,310 <SECURITIES> 915 <RECEIVABLES> 12,502 <ALLOWANCES> 747 <INVENTORY> 103 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 21,918 <PP&E> 3,720 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 42,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 9,695 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 162 <OTHER-SE> 32,143 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 42,000 <SALES> 27,428 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 34,734 <CGS> 2,310 <TOTAL-COSTS> 4,138 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 28,179 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,669 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,309 <INCOME-TAX> 485 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 824 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (343) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 481 <EPS-PRIMARY> .00 <EPS-DILUTED> .01