<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                           2,042                     551                   2,209
<SECURITIES>                                       931                       0                  24,992
<RECEIVABLES>                                    2,580                     535                   4,364
<ALLOWANCES>                                       375                      80                     856
<INVENTORY>                                        225                       0                     154
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 5,722                   1,217                  31,395
<PP&E>                                           1,001                     453                   1,829
<DEPRECIATION>                                     247                     114                     539
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   6,495                   1,575                  32,716
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            2,371                   1,267                   3,502
<BONDS>                                            212                      21                      11
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            5,167                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          2                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                            53                       1                     115
<OTHER-SE>                                     (1,522)                      10                  29,085
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     6,495                   1,575                  32,716
<SALES>                                          6,837                   3,058                  11,574
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 8,401                   3,928                  13,280
<CGS>                                            1,193                     314                   2,207
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    2,009                     632                   3,027
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,746                   2,878                   8,415
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   355                     280                     481
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  11                       9                      26
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    678                     416                   2,014
<INCOME-TAX>                                       238                       0                     665
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                440                     416                   1,349
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       440                     416                   1,349
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .07                     .07                    0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .05                     .07                    0.14


</TABLE>