EXHIBIT 23.0--CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


         We consent to the  incorporation  by  reference to page 29 of this Form
10-K of our report dated March 20, 1996 of Inter-Tel, Incorporated.

         Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Inter-Tel,
Incorporated  listed in Item 14(a).  This schedule is the  responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based upon our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

         We also  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  Registration
Statement  (Form  S-3  No.  33-58161),  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-3  No.
33-61437),  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-3  No.  333-01735),   Registration
Statement (Form S-8 No. 2-94805),  in the  Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No.
33-40353),  and in the  Registration  Statement  (Form S-8 No.  33-73620) of our
report  dated  March  20,  1996,  with  respect  to the  consolidated  financial
statements  incorporated  herein by  reference  and our report  included  in the
preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule included in
this Form 10-K of Inter-Tel, Incorporated.



Phoenix, Arizona                            /S/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                            
March 27, 1996