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.