Acquisitions - Summary of Supplemental Pro Forma Results of GlobalTrak (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 19,350	$ 16,720
Net Income (loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	(441)	1,092
Net Income (loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders	(586)
GlobalTrak [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Revenues		17,384
Net Income (loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		437
Net Income (loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders		$ 421

Business acquisitions pro forma net income loss attributable to common stockholders.

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- Definition

Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 260

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1377-109256

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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