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


         We consent to the  incorporation by reference on page 34 in this Annual
Report  (Form  10-K) of our report  dated  February  20,  1998  included  in the
1997 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-3 No.
333-39221),   Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8  No.  2-94805),   Registration
Statement  (Form  S-8  No.  33-40353),  Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8  No.
33-73620) and in Registration  Statement (Form S-8 No.  333-41197) of our report
dated February 20, 1998, 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 27, 1998