<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999             JAN-31-1999             JAN-31-1999             JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998             AUG-01-1998             MAY-01-1998             FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1999             OCT-31-1998             JUL-31-1998             APR-30-1998
<CASH>                                           6,132                   9,108                  12,106                   9,292
<SECURITIES>                                    20,763                  18,413                  15,508                  20,495
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,543                   6,323                   7,695                   7,427
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (175)                   (175)                   (175)                   (175)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                39,232                  36,810                  38,278                  37,597
<PP&E>                                           8,127                   8,036                   7,699                   7,196
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (2,677)                 (2,271)                 (2,023)                 (1,804)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  49,887                  46,106                  47,039                  47,622
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            7,755                   7,105                   7,195                   9,252
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                            13                      13                      13                      13
<OTHER-SE>                                      38,416                  37,007                  36,857                  35,777
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    49,887                  46,106                  47,039                  47,622
<SALES>                                         10,649                   8,808                  10,344                  11,276
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                10,649                   8,808                  10,344                  11,276
<CGS>                                            3,345                   3,618                   3,418                   4,101
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    3,345                   3,618                   3,418                   4,101
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,152                   5,894                   5,753                   5,149
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 321                     328                     354                     368
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,473                   (376)                   1,527                   2,394
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,058                     526                   1,009                     963
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,415                   (902)                     518                   1,431
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,415                   (902)                     518                   1,431
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.11                  (0.07)                    0.04                    0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.09                  (0.07)                    0.03                    0.09


</TABLE>