<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          12,239
<SECURITIES>                                    21,730
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,141
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (618)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                49,941
<PP&E>                                          10,654
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (3,556)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  60,637
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            7,232
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        62,944
<OTHER-SE>                                    (11,618)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    60,637
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                18,253
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   10,494
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 4,526
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   149
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,756
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,502
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,254
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.26