Net (loss) Income Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders - Summary of Determination of Diluted Income per Share, Excluding Potentially Dilutive Securities (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities	4,798,408	3,979,748
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities	155,335
Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities	4,427,818	3,513,241
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities	165,255	42,391
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities	50,000	424,116