<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 14,511 <SECURITIES> 10,441 <RECEIVABLES> 8,173 <ALLOWANCES> 1,600 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 33,631 <PP&E> 5,088 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 50,124 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 12,338 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 164 <OTHER-SE> 37,622 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 50,124 <SALES> 25,249 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 36,060 <CGS> 2,024 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,781 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 25,542 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,383 <INCOME-TAX> 2,730 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,653 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,653 <EPS-PRIMARY> .30 <EPS-DILUTED> .28