Editorial

Vodia Partner Spotlight: Skyetel

Published on:

December 15, 2021

Founded in 2014, Vodia partner Skyetel is “the telecom company that scares the big guys,” an independent telco with customers in all 50 states and all Canadian provinces. Skyetel maintains a robust network spanning North America that provides true multi-tenancy to resellers. The company’s platform was built for resellers to manage multiple customers from one convenient portal.

Founded in 2014, Vodia partner Skyetel is “the telecom company that scares the big guys,” an independent telco with customers in all 50 states and all Canadian provinces. Skyetel maintains a robust network spanning North America that provides true multi-tenancy to resellers. The company’s platform was built for resellers to manage multiple customers from one convenient portal.

Skyetel’s multi-tenant, SIP trunking platform is configured for resellers to easily connect with Vodia to provision and manage their DID inventory – resellers can take advantage of relationship pricing without any contracts, commitments or upfront fees. The company’s “bring your own PBX” policy enables its resellers but doesn’t compete with them: they Skyetel platform makes it so resellers can easily handle multiple customers from a single, easy-to-use portal.

Prior to Skyetel, Chris Bardos – President of Skyetel and former California State Debate champion – founded SkyeBlue, a successful phone service provider to small- and medium-sized businesses. As a reseller, however, Chris found there weren’t any good carrier-grade, SIP trunk platforms catering to the unique needs of multiple tenant-customers. Chris sold SkyeBlue to focus on serving resellers as a carrier with a completely different approach and, in 2014, he founded Skyetel, a SIP trunk provider with a specific focus on resellers.

In 2016 Skyetel deployed its current next-gen nationwide carrier platform, which has had zero customer-affecting outages since it was deployed; as of 2020, Skyetel was the fastest growing North American carrier deploying its own OCN (622J) coast-to-coast and had developed a reputation for awesome customer service, by reducing average support response time to mere minutes. The company has had 100 percent uptime for seven consecutive years.

Skyetel is as committed to its community as it is to its resellers. The company has won The SW Washington Business Journal Best In Business award four times. In 2018 Skyetel committed to going from “carbon neutral” to “carbon negative,” to offset more carbon than it produces. Skyetel has also partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization committed to global reforestation – Skyetel has contributed to planting thousands of trees and is a member of Conservation International’s Emerald Circle, a group of donors who have made significant investments in the Conservation International mission.

Like Vodia, Skyetel is a relationship-first company, and its team is what’s propelled the company to its current level of success. Chris Bardos is an entrepreneur and fierce competitor who loves technology – he embodies Mark Twain’s quote, “find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” He absolutely loves what he does. When he’s not running one of America’s most awesome SIP trunk providers, he and his wife relax at their cabin on the coast of northwestern Washington and travel abroad whenever they can in search of fine wines and joie d’vivre.

Like Chris, Brian Smiley, VP, Sales & Marketing, loves what he does, delineating and executing the company’s revenue strategy. A 20+ year resident of Denver, CO, a continuously growing telecom hub, Brian previously worked for Qwest, Level3, Inteliquent and Peerless Network. He built his career as a sales leader on a technical background in quality and sales engineering. Brian most enjoys consultatively sharing what he has learned over two decades in telecom, especially about the reseller market, whether it is with his clients or employees.  An avid boater, lacrosse coach and pilot, he has three children.

Want to find out more about these indefatigable telecom pioneers determined to provide the best service to resellers throughout North America? Contact Brian Smiley, bsmiley@skyetel.com.

Vodia will host a joint webinar with Skyetel on Thursday, 13 January at 1:00 PM EST – this webinar will take resellers through the entire configuration process. Register here: https://my.demio.com/ref/3mqwR2LGEZu5vT06.

Latest Articles

View All

Why Browser Calling is the Future of Business Communication

Vodia’s browser calling solution allows businesses to make and receive VoIP calls directly from any web browser, eliminating the need for apps or desk phones. It offers convenience, cost savings, and a wide range of features including chat, voicemail, call transfers, conference calls, video calls, and CRM integration. The system is secure, operating entirely within the browser to reduce exposure to malware, and scalable to support remote and hybrid work environments. With easy setup through the Vodia PBX web interface, organizations can streamline communication, improve productivity, and provide employees with a flexible, reliable, and fully integrated business communication experience.

August 13, 2025

Building Intelligent Voice Response Systems with Vodia's JavaScript IVR

JavaScript IVR transforms the way businesses handle incoming calls by enabling fully customizable, intelligent phone menu systems. Unlike static IVR setups with limited, pre-defined options, JavaScript IVR allows you to create dynamic call flows that adapt in real time based on caller input, business data, or even external API integrations. This means you can route calls more efficiently, automate complex processes, and offer highly personalized experiences to your customers. Whether you want to check customer records before transferring a call, adjust menu options based on time of day, or integrate with CRM systems for instant data access, JavaScript IVR gives you the flexibility and control to make it happen - all while improving efficiency and enhancing caller satisfaction.

August 11, 2025

Get The Support You Need Easily Through The Vodia Help Center On Jira

Vodia support is now easier to access through the Vodia Help Center on Jira, giving partners and customers a centralized platform to submit technical support tickets, ask sales or licensing questions, and suggest new features. With a valid license key, users can open detailed requests and track their status in one place. The portal also brings together Vodia documentation, the PBX API, and the Vodia forum, making it the go-to resource for everything Vodia. Whether you're troubleshooting, planning an upgrade, or just need guidance, the Help Center is designed to streamline your experience and connect you with the right support faster.

August 7, 2025