<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S DECEMBER 31, 1998 AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 174,173,008 <SECURITIES> 21,918,387 <RECEIVABLES> 28,310,275 <ALLOWANCES> 800,000 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 218,770,020 <PP&E> 13,256,711 <DEPRECIATION> 2,701,024 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 298,677,949 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 22,913,871 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,033 <OTHER-SE> 275,611,908 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 298,677,949 <SALES> 65,814,073 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 65,814,073 <CGS> 14,607,470 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,607,470 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 63,727,561 <LOSS-PROVISION> 500,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 40,675 <INCOME-PRETAX> (9,777,212) <INCOME-TAX> 1,278,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,498,812) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,498,812) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.38) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.38)