<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 52,750 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 20,100 <ALLOWANCES> 1,456 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 78,349 <PP&E> 19,045 <DEPRECIATION> 12,220 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 96,746 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 50,749 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 125 <OTHER-SE> 45,872 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 96,746 <SALES> 16,596 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 50,352 <CGS> 3,036 <TOTAL-COSTS> 17,831 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 29,781 <LOSS-PROVISION> 458 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,585 <INCOME-TAX> 1,147 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,438 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,438 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18