Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Gardner John L
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2007
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
INTER TEL INC [INTL]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O INTER-TEL (DELAWARE), INCORPORATED, 1615 SOUTH 52ND STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr. V.P. & General Counsel
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

TEMPE, AZ 85281
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 1,670
D (1)
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options   (2) 05/28/2007 Common Stock 21,000 $ 7.9375 D  
Stock Options   (3) 08/08/2010 Common Stock 10,000 $ 12.875 D  
Stock Options   (4) 03/09/2011 Common Stock 15,000 $ 9.0313 D  
Stock Options   (5) 04/30/2011 Common Stock 7,500 $ 9.89 D  
Stock Options   (6) 04/14/2013 Common Stock 9,000 $ 13.57 D  
Stock Options   (7) 05/03/2015 Common Stock 10,000 $ 19.13 D  
Stock Options   (8) 07/28/2016 Common Stock 10,000 $ 21.23 D  
Performance Shares   (9) 04/27/2009 Common Stock 2,000 $ 21.23 (10) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Gardner John L
C/O INTER-TEL (DELAWARE), INCORPORATED
1615 SOUTH 52ND STREET
TEMPE, AZ 85281
      Sr. V.P. & General Counsel  

Signatures

Kurt R. Kneip 02/23/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) 350 shares of the total of 1670 shares held in a 401(k) account
(2) 1/5th of the original grant of 40,000 on each anniverary of grant date 5/28/1997
(3) 1/5th of the original grant of 10,000 on each anniversary of grant date 08/08/2000
(4) 1/5th of the original grant of 15,000 on each anniversary of original grant date 03/09/2001
(5) 1/5th of the original grant of 7,500 on each anniversary of grant date 04/30/2001
(6) 1/5th of the original grant of 9,000 on each anniversary of grant date 04/14/2003
(7) 1/3rd of the original grant of 10,000 on each anniverary of grant date of 05/03/2005
(8) 1/3rd of the original grant of 10,000 on each anniverary of grant date 07/28/2006
(9) 1/2 on 04/27/2008 and 1/2 on 04/27/2009 so long as the Company meets or exceeds selected earnings per share targets
(10) Although the market price on the date of the award was $21.23, should the performance goals be achieved, the shares will be issued at no cost

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