<ARTICLE>      5
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          52,005
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,319
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                73,838
<PP&E>                                           9,976
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,398
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 127,520
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           11,130
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           285
<OTHER-SE>                                      86,841
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   127,520
<SALES>                                         44,361
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                44,361
<CGS>                                           12,038
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   12,038
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                35,711
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,749
<INCOME-TAX>                                       664
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    $1,085
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.04