<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  30, 1996 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                                               JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                                 SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                                        1
<CASH>                                                                                             34950
<SECURITIES>                                                                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                                      37946
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                                        3070
<INVENTORY>                                                                                        24373
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                                  108813
<PP&E>                                                                                             28805
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                                     15232
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                                    134328
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                              26328
<BONDS>                                                                                                0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                            0
<COMMON>                                                                                           59557
<OTHER-SE>                                                                                         34562
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                                      134328
<SALES>                                                                                           133384
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                                  133384
<CGS>                                                                                              75348
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                                      75348
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                                    43
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                                    14183
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                        5811
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                                 8372
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                                        0
<CHANGES>                                                                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                                        8372
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                                       0.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                                       0.62
        

</TABLE>