<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 91,617 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 113,342 <ALLOWANCES> 13,911 <INVENTORY> 17,588 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 220,508 <PP&E> 21,013 <DEPRECIATION> (10,097) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 262,353 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 103,673 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 97,388 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 262,353 <SALES> 201,670 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 201,670 <CGS> 127,089 <TOTAL-COSTS> 127,089 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 64,972 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 377 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,232 <INCOME-TAX> 3,531 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,701 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,701 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.31 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.30