<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 53,836 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 14,161 <ALLOWANCES> 1,302 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 70,761 <PP&E> 4,143 <DEPRECIATION> 3,090 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 76,346 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,846 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 169 <OTHER-SE> 63,827 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 76,346 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 8,486 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,864 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 38 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,965 <INCOME-TAX> 1,186 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,779 <EPS-PRIMARY> .09 <EPS-DILUTED> .09