<ARTICLE> 5
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1
<CASH>                                          18,943                  10,619
<SECURITIES>                                    68,483                  31,502
<RECEIVABLES>                                   81,557                  46,800
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               176,850                  96,487
<PP&E>                                           9,553                   7,559
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (4,751)                 (3,662)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 185,144                 103,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           33,394                  28,960
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       127,652                  82,316
<OTHER-SE>                                      23,644                (11,810)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   185,144                 111,933
<SALES>                                         70,175                  47,647
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                70,175                  47,647
<CGS>                                           50,499                  35,698
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   50,499                  35,698
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,929                   8,267
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,133                   4,083
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,653                   1,592
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,480                   2,491
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,480                   2,491
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .30                     .16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .29                     .15