<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 9,448 <SECURITIES> 29,932 <RECEIVABLES> 16,894 <ALLOWANCES> 1,525 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,706 <PP&E> 24,485 <DEPRECIATION> 18,376 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 78,268 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 39,884 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 119 <OTHER-SE> 37,697 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 78,268 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 38,090 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,216 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 30,965 <LOSS-PROVISION> 210 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4,306) <INCOME-TAX> (1,506) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,800) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,800) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.23) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.23)