<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER  31,  1999  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           19226
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    58397
<ALLOWANCES>                                      8814
<INVENTORY>                                      18816
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                119114
<PP&E>                                           63714
<DEPRECIATION>                                   29698
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  240249
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            58189
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        106853
<OTHER-SE>                                       61268
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    240249
<SALES>                                         314221
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                314221
<CGS>                                           159463
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   159463
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                104832
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  8396
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 110
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  43765
<INCOME-TAX>                                     16619
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              27146
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     27146
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.01