<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         418,899                 157,031                 165,785
<SECURITIES>                                   314,972                 260,764                 220,330
<RECEIVABLES>                                  272,466                 161,304                 107,226
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (11,682)                 (5,107)                 (4,077)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               903,618                 537,779                 481,343
<PP&E>                                         127,649                 126,070                  85,170
<DEPRECIATION>                                (73,160)                (77,742)                (44,240)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,536,721                 805,350                 613,867
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          366,562                 289,968                 173,865
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,371                   1,281                   1,246
<OTHER-SE>                                     721,467                 491,220                 424,425
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   722,838                 805,350                 613,867
<SALES>                                        990,045                 735,692                 514,997
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               990,045                 735,692                 514,997
<CGS>                                          177,048                 142,099                  97,558
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  693,031                 531,646                  97,558
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            (15,246)                       0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                138,167                  82,813                  65,419
<INCOME-TAX>                                   101,729                  72,174                  54,708
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             36,438                  10,639                  10,711
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    36,438                  10,639                  10,711
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.27<F1>                0.08<F1>                0.09<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.26                    0.08                    0.09
<FN>
<F1>FOR PURPOSES OF THIS FDS, PRIMARY MEANS BASIC
</FN>
        

</TABLE>