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


         We consent to the  incorporation by reference on page 21 in this Annual
Report  (Form 10-K) of our report dated  February 28, 1997  included in the 1996
Annual Report to Shareholders of Inter-Tel, Incorporated.

         Our audit 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-3  No.  333-12433),  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8 No.
2-94805),  Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-40353),  and in Registration
Statement  (Form S-8 No.  33-73620) of our report dated February 28, 1997,  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 Annual  Report  (Form 10-K) of
Inter-Tel, Incorporated.



Phoenix, Arizona                            /S/  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
March 21, 1997
                                       52