<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 17,285 <SECURITIES> 38,692 <RECEIVABLES> 27,961 <ALLOWANCES> 2,200 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 87,495 <PP&E> 17,660 <DEPRECIATION> 8,228 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 98,987 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 26,605 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 99 <OTHER-SE> 71,656 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 98,987 <SALES> 24,395 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 53,349 <CGS> 1,829 <TOTAL-COSTS> 16,449 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 36,807 <LOSS-PROVISION> 198 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,259 <INCOME-TAX> 3,737 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 93 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,478) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.25) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.25)