<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996 <CASH> 211,514 <SECURITIES> 89,523 <RECEIVABLES> 428,432 <ALLOWANCES> 11,462 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 792,127 <PP&E> 432,328<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,455,788 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 375,790 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 4 <COMMON> 1,089 <OTHER-SE> 869,226 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,455,788 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 480,708 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 723,002 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (230,556) <INCOME-TAX> (86,786) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (126,354) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (126,354) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.22) <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>PP&E BALANCE IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. </FN>