<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,  1996  AND IS
                              QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                               38936
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        33094
<ALLOWANCES>                                          3096
<INVENTORY>                                          21280
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    105465
<PP&E>                                               26632
<DEPRECIATION>                                       15443
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      132611
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                25756
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                             59875
<OTHER-SE>                                           35059
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        132611
<SALES>                                             185884
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    185884
<CGS>                                               104966
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       104966      
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      77
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      15306
<INCOME-TAX>                                          6264
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                   9042
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0    
<NET-INCOME>                                          9042
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .68