US-Based Telecom Company Expands into the British Midlands.

CHICAGO -- Inter-Tel Inc., a US-based telecommunications company, has expanded its United Kingdom operations to the British Midlands city of Northampton. Growing 20% annually, Inter-Tel required a larger UK presence. Asked why Inter-Tel chose this region, Jeff Ford, Division President, commented, "In the British Midlands we found more room for growth andC* a better facility for customers coming for business at our site." Mr. Ford also added, "This location is working well and is very well received by our channels that have brought customers here."

Inter-Tel manufactures software and hardware for the telecommunications industry and expanded their business into the UK in 1991. Inter-Tel's new Northampton facility will focus on supporting its reseller network in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. With sales of over $442 M in 2005, Inter-Tel has a diverse UK customer base including Laura Ashley Stores, Church of England and Windsor Castle.

Inter-Tel employs 35 people in Northampton and expects to add additional staff as the business grows. In speaking about the company's staffing needs, Mr. Ford said, "The labor pool [in Northampton] is very good for what we do. It is easier to get to and that has helped in recruiting."

Telecommunications is one of the British Midlands' fastest growing business sectors. Currently there are 1,300 telecommunications companies with 24,000 employees in this region. Birmingham is the only UK city with 100% coverage of a self-healing fiber optic networkCoa boon for businesses that rely on IT. Nottingham is fully cabled with fiber optic lines capable of carrying 155,000 times more information than telephone technology. Several major telecommunication companies have chosen to expand or relocate to British Midlands, including Siemens, VarTech, Fujitsu and US-based companies AT&T and Telmar Networks.

About the British Midlands

The British Midlands is the economic development agency for central England. Its region includes the major commercial centers of Nottingham and Birmingham, plus many equally attractive business centers in smaller cities and towns. With 650,000 people employed in the telecommunications, financial and business services sector, the area offers world-class skilled labor and highly competitive operating costs, just 90 minutes from London.