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Industry Analysts Agree: The Inter-Tel(R) 7000 Takes Business Communications to the Next Level
[April 19, 2006]

Industry Analysts Agree: The Inter-Tel(R) 7000 Takes Business Communications to the Next Level


TEMPE, Ariz., April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At its recent North American Analyst Conference, Inter-Tel, Incorporated , a leading provider of voice and data communications solutions for businesses, gave industry analysts representing many of the largest global research firms, a preview of its new Inter-Tel 7000 communications system. Now undergoing field trials, the consensus among the 25 analysts in attendance was that Inter-Tel has developed a powerful, robust IP-based communications system that has the potential to redefine how businesses communicate.


"Inter-Tel has done a masterful job in developing a platform that is being designed to successfully leverage advanced IP technology to provide a rich, intuitive feature set that can be an asset to any business," noted Mark Ricca, a partner with Intellicom Analytics, a New Jersey-based research firm that specializes in the communications industry. "When released for general availability, the expectation is that the Inter-Tel 7000 will offer a number of innovations that we believe will translate into significant productivity and efficiency gains for enterprise customers."
Scaling up to 2,500 users per site, the Inter-Tel 7000 is designed to be a pure, standards-based communications platform utilizing SIP technology at its core. The platform also is designed to be redundant and secure, and to provide easy-to-use interfaces for remote management and configuration.
In addition, the Inter-Tel 7000 is expected to offer a full PBX-style feature set and a number of innovations, including embedded presence management and advanced mobility features. The system is also being designed to support Inter-Tel's advanced IP-powered applications, such as collaboration, messaging solutions and contact center solutions, as well as its existing lines of multi-protocol IP and SIP endpoints.
According to Allan Sulkin, president of TEQConsult Group, Inter-Tel is capitalizing on emerging technology trends with the creation of the Inter-Tel 7000. "Standards-based software solutions, with SIP at the core, will enable organizations to avoid obsolescence by leveraging the communication options that Internet standards make possible," noted Sulkin.
Rob Arnold, an industry analyst with Current Analysis, cited the Inter-Tel 7000's embedded presence capabilities as an appealing benefit to customers. "The fact that the Inter-Tel 7000 delivers presence capabilities as part of its core feature set differentiates it from other solutions in the market," said Arnold. "This is a real incentive for businesses looking to leverage these tools without having to add servers or additional software."
In addition to introducing the analyst community to the Inter-Tel 7000, Inter-Tel also described its strategies to market the Inter-Tel 7000 -- along with its Managed Services program and IP-powered applications -- to larger businesses. Again the analysts liked what they heard.
"Many vendors announce exciting new products, and then try to figure out how to sell them," said David Yedwab, executive vice president with Eastern Management Group. "Inter-Tel is taking a much more holistic approach, which is very much needed by resellers and end users. Their Managed Services program gives Inter-Tel a strategic advantage by uniquely positioning the company to deliver a robust, end-to-end solution for a monthly fee."
"In addition," Yedwab continued, "Inter-Tel possesses the in-house expertise to help its channels implement, service and support end users. Service and support is critical in the IP environment. Unfortunately, it's an area that all too frequently gets overlooked by providers. Inter-Tel should be commended for taking the time to understand the challenges businesses face in deploying Voice over IP, and for creating a very unique program that can become a great differentiator for channel partners, as well as serve the evolving needs of enterprise customers."
SAFE HARBOR
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the design features and functionality of the Inter-Tel 7000 communications system, as well as statements regarding tools designed to offer flexibility and value, increase productivity, improve efficiency, to achieve business objectives, and statements regarding strategic advantages of its Managed Services program. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, dependence on new product or software development; the presence of software "bugs"; market acceptance of the product and related software; the Company's ability to offer and add benefits to customers using its Managed Services approach; and intended uses identified above. Statements made by individual analysts in this release reflect their opinion only and should be viewed within the context of the preceding language regarding risk factors. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements, please see the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2006, other subsequently filed current and periodic reports, and the Company's most recent Form 10-Q dated November 9, 2005. 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. All products and services mentioned are the trademarks, service marks, registered marks or registered service marks of their respective owners.
About Inter-Tel
Inter-Tel offers value-driven communications products; applications utilizing networks and server-based communications software; and a wide range of managed services that include voice and data network design and traffic provisioning, custom application development, and financial solutions packages. An industry-leading provider focused on the communication needs of business enterprises, Inter-Tel employs approximately 2,000 communications professionals, and services business customers through a network of approximately 60 company-owned, direct sales offices and over 350 authorized providers in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and South Africa. More information is available at http://www.inter-tel.com/.
Inter-Tel, Incorporated

CONTACT: Craig W. Rauchle, President and COO, +1-775-954-1200, or JeanneLeckie, Vice President of Marketing, +1-480-961-9000, or Jeffrey T. Ford, Sr.Vice President and CTO, or Kurt R. Kneip, Sr. Vice President and CFO, orNorman Stout, CEO, all of Inter-Tel, Incorporated, +1-480-449-8900


Web site: http://www.inter-tel.com/

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