8-K

                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): APRIL 7, 2003


                             INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-10211


                 ARIZONA                                         86-0220994
      (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                             I.R.S. EMPLOYER
            OF INCORPORATION)                              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

           1615 S. 52ND STREET
             TEMPE, ARIZONA                                         85281
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                         (ZIP CODE)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (480) 449-8900

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS


     Exhibit
     Number
     ------
      99.1         Press release dated April 7, 2003 announcing anticipated
                   net  sales  and  earnings  per share  results  for,  and
                   anticipated cash and short-term investment levels as of,
                   the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2003.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE


The  following  information  required  to be  disclosed  pursuant  to  Item 12 -
"Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" is being furnished
under Item 9 - "Regulation FD Disclosure" in accordance  with the Securities and
Exchange Commission's Final Rule Release No. 33-8216:

On April 7, 2003, Inter-Tel, Incorporated (the "Company") issued a press release
announcing  anticipated  net  sales and  earnings  per share  results  for,  and
anticipated cash and short-tem investment levels as of, the fiscal quarter ended
March 31, 2003. The full text of this press release is set forth in Exhibit 99.1
hereto.  Pursuant to General  Instruction  B.6 of Form 8-K,  this exhibit is not
"filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended, but is instead furnished as required by that instruction.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED

Dated: April 7, 2003                    By: /s/ Kurt R. Kneip
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Kurt R. Kneip
                                            Chief Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit
     Number
     ------
      99.1         Press release dated April 7, 2003 announcing anticipated
                   net  sales  and  earnings  per share  results  for,  and
                   anticipated cash and short-term investment levels as of,
                   the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2003.

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

[INTER-TEL LOGO]                                                    NEWS RELEASE
1615 SOUTH 52ND STREET, TEMPE, ARIZONA 85281 (480) 449-8900 FAX (480) 449-8929

                
FOR RELEASE        April 7, 2003
RELEASE NUMBER     INTL 03-07
CONTACT            Steven G. Mihaylo, Chairman, President and CEO  (775) 954-1211
                   Norman Stout, Executive Vice President and CAO  (480) 449-8900
                   Craig W. Rauchle, Executive Vice President and COO  (949) 465-8000
                   Kurt R. Kneip, Sr. Vice President and CFO  (480) 449-8900



              INTER-TEL ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

TEMPE, ARIZONA . . . APRIL 7, 2003 . . . INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED (NASDAQ: INTL)
today announced current estimated sales and earnings per share results for the
first quarter ended March 31, 2003.

Based on preliminary information, the Company estimates net sales for the first
quarter of 2003 to be in the range of $83 million to $85 million, and earnings
per share to be in the range of $0.15 to $0.19. We experienced lower than
expected sales in the second half of the quarter ending March 31, 2003, and as a
result these estimates are lower than our previous estimates. Also, the Company
estimates that it ended the first quarter of 2003 with a balance of
approximately $131 million in cash and short-term investments, an increase of
approximately $5 from December 31, 2002.

Inter-Tel noted that the preliminary earnings per share estimates reflect lower
net sales primarily as a result of weak economic conditions, uncertainties
associated with the war in Iraq and threatened terrorist attacks, the impact of
adverse weather conditions, increased competitive pressures and delayed buying
decisions by its customers.

Inter-Tel will hold a conference call to discuss these estimated results, which
is scheduled for April 8, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. (ET) via the Internet at
http://www.inter-tel.com. Select "News & Events" from the top navigation bar on
the website. A link to the web cast will be displayed within the "News & Events"
section of the website. A replay of the conference call will be available on the
Internet until April 8, 2004 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).

Inter-Tel expects to announce its final financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003 on April 21, 2003, at which time more complete commentary on the
fiscal quarter will be provided.

ABOUT INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED

Inter-Tel (NASDAQ: INTL) is a single point of contact, full-service provider of
business communications and voice mail systems. We market and sell voice
processing and unified messaging software, call accounting software, Internet
Protocol (IP) telephony software, computer-telephone integration applications,
long distance calling services, and other communications services. Our products
and services include the AXXESS by Inter-Tel and ECLIPSE(2) by Inter-Tel
business communication platforms, with integrated voice processing and unified
messaging systems, IP Telephony voice and data routers, and ClearConnect
Talk-to-Agent e-commerce software. We also provide maintenance, leasing and
support services for our products. More information is available at
http://www.inter-tel.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the net sales and earnings
per share results Inter-Tel expects for the first quarter of 2003 and the cash
and short-term investment balances that Inter-Tel expects as of March 31, 2003.
Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially
from our current expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not necessarily limited to the risk that Inter-Tel's actual results may be
different from the preliminary results depending on the final determination of
net sales, gross margins and operating expenses, and as a result of the
quarterly review by the Company's independent accountants. For a further list
and description of such risks and uncertainties, please see the Company's
previously filed SEC reports, including the Company's Form 10-K, dated March 21,
2003. Inter-Tel disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.