<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          54,555
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,431
<ALLOWANCES>                                       545
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                79,602
<PP&E>                                          18,366
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (4,086)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 121,023
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            4,671
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           287
<OTHER-SE>                                      82,782
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   106,267
<SALES>                                         23,476
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                23,476
<CGS>                                            7,257
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    7,257
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                22,321
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,162)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (822)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,340)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,340)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.05)