<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 15,155 <SECURITIES> 23,984 <RECEIVABLES> 21,315 <ALLOWANCES> 1,400 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 66,131 <PP&E> 25,487 <DEPRECIATION> 19,043 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 83,195 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 43,969 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 120 <OTHER-SE> 38,538 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 83,195 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,284 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,476 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 45,326 <LOSS-PROVISION> 299 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,293) <INCOME-TAX> (1,151) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,142) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,142) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.18) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.18)