Goodwill, Purchased Intangibles, and Software Development Costs - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets And Internally Developed Software [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived trade name	$ 918		$ 918
Capitalized software development costs	$ 800	$ 700
Computer Software, Intangible Asset
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets And Internally Developed Software [Line Items]
Useful life of capitalized costs, in years	3 years

Indefinite lived intangible assets and internally developed software.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	plcm_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additions made to capitalized computer software costs during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the rights acquired through registration of a trade name to gain or protect exclusive use thereof for a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type: