<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                         
<ARTICLE>                     5                
<LEGEND>                                       
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE SIX
MONTHS  ENDED  6-30-97 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE  TO THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND NOTES THERETO  CONTAINED IN THE  COMPANY'S  QUARTERLY
REPORT ON FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>                                      
<CIK>                     0000818813
<NAME>                    BITSTREAM INC.
<MULTIPLIER>              1
<CURRENCY>                U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                     JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                       JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                              1
<CASH>                                                               8,238,000
<SECURITIES>                                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        4,216,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           499,000
<INVENTORY>                                                             51,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                    13,192,000
<PP&E>                                                               3,578,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       2,505,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      16,637,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                4,206,000
<BONDS>                                                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                  0
<COMMON>                                                                65,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                          12,267,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        16,637,000
<SALES>                                                              5,685,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     5,685,000
<CGS>                                                                  774,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       11,266,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                       342,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                           0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                    (6,013,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           141,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                (6,154,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                       (6,154,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                           (1.01)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                0
        


</TABLE>