<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
                              INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL
                              DATA   SCHEDULE   (EXHIBIT   27.1)  THIS  SCHEDULE
                              CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
                              FROM THE INTER-TEL,  INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE
                              30,  1997  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
                              REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000 
<CURRENCY>                      U.S. DOLLARS 
                                               
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           25673
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    32456
<ALLOWANCES>                                      3421
<INVENTORY>                                      23001
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 90817
<PP&E>                                           33143
<DEPRECIATION>                                   17483
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  123548
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            26144
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         60115
<OTHER-SE>                                        (520)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    123548
<SALES>                                         105145
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                105145
<CGS>                                            58574
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    58574
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  24
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  10195
<INCOME-TAX>                                      4101
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               6094
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                      6094
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .45