<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Inter-Tel,  Incorporated  and  subsidiaries  financial  statements  for the nine
months  ended  September,  1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                    JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                      SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                             1
<CASH>                                                                  22188
<SECURITIES>                                                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           34988
<ALLOWANCES>                                                             3817
<INVENTORY>                                                             24173
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        92981
<PP&E>                                                                  34166
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          18032
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         125282
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   30775
<BONDS>                                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                                60473
<OTHER-SE>                                                              19070
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                           125282
<SALES>                                                                162061
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                       162061
<CGS>                                                                   89191
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           89191
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                         37
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                         16870
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             6798
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                     10072
<DISCONTINUED>                                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                                            10072
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                            0.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                            0.37
        

</TABLE>