<ARTICLE>      5 
<LEGEND>     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
             FROM THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED
             IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              9-MOS        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998  JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998  SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                      44,469,870   13,119,208
<SECURITIES>                                         0            0
<RECEIVABLES>                               12,618,819    8,011,757
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0            0
<INVENTORY>                                          0            0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            62,771,801   22,911,068
<PP&E>                                      15,495,100   17,276,398
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0            0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              83,326,112   45,329,936
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       12,096,200    2,430,533
<BONDS>                                              0            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0            0
<PREFERRED>                                          0            0
<COMMON>                                         1,678        1,384
<OTHER-SE>                                  70,263,894   32,621,670
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                83,326,112   45,329,936
<SALES>                                     37,217,912   23,304,358
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            37,217,912   23,304,358
<CGS>                                       21,701,233   16,977,668
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               21,701,233   16,977,668
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            16,497,902   30,079,192
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0            0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (1,655,816) (14,024,388)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0            0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (1,655,816) (14,024,388)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0            0
<CHANGES>                                            0            0
<NET-INCOME>                                (1,655,816) (14,024,388)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   ($0.11)      ($1.00)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   ($0.11)      ($1.00)