<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 7,408 19,402 <SECURITIES> 83,441 56,927 <RECEIVABLES> 41,619 34,140 <ALLOWANCES> (850) (554) <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 140,254 113,746 <PP&E> 38,437 31,991 <DEPRECIATION> 19,373 15,724 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 161,791 130,809 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,958 19,911 <BONDS> 2,600 2,907 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 210 205 <OTHER-SE> 130,816 106,491 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 161,791 130,809 <SALES> 7,285 8,137 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 45,058 37,345 <CGS> 5,563 6,612 <TOTAL-COSTS> 40,372 32,668 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 165 25 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17 34 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,666 5,587 <INCOME-TAX> 2,266 2,234 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,400 3,353 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,400 3,353 <EPS-PRIMARY> .16 .16 <EPS-DILUTED> .16 .16