<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          33,012                  33,616                  34,155                  34,447
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                   1,486
<RECEIVABLES>                                    5,425                   7,360                  12,494                  17,977
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                39,468                  43,082                  51,686                  59,325
<PP&E>                                           2,586                   3,489                   4,631                   8,470
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  42,177                  46,938                  58,801                  70,684
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            9,174                  11,592                  20,213                  23,739
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                             1                       1                       1                       2
<OTHER-SE>                                      33,002                  40,032                  40,096                  45,556
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    42,177                  46,938                  58,801                  70,684
<SALES>                                              0                  13,524                  25,692                  39,139
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 7,784                  20,091                  37,092                  56,322
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,703                   4,618                   8,016                  12,120
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,373                  14,642                  24,673                  36,716
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0                       0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,066                   1,552                   5,513                   9,130
<INCOME-TAX>                                       107                   (578)                     214                     940
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                959                   2,130                   5,299                   8,190
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       959                   2,130                   5,299                   8,190
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.10                    0.22                    0.27                    0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.09                    0.20                    0.25                    0.38
        

</TABLE>