<ARTICLE>      5
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         $24,201
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   14,582
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                40,018
<PP&E>                                           5,488
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,453
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  66,855
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            5,654
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           264
<OTHER-SE>                                      30,206
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    66,855
<SALES>                                         33,545
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                33,545
<CGS>                                            7,452
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    7,452
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,074
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,118
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,618
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    $7,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28