Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly Results of Operations

	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter
2016
Revenues	$	43,560		$	50,064		$	46,288		$	46,832
(Loss) income from operations	$	(114	)	$	(1,615	)	$	(12,053	)	$	(704	)
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$	(2,096	)	$	(4,169	)	$	(14,041	)	$	(3,205	)
Net (loss) income per common share-basic:
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		(0.03	)		(0.06	)		(0.20	)		(0.05	)
Net (loss) income per common share-diluted
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		(0.03	)		(0.06	)		(0.20	)		(0.05	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		70,700			70,900			70,997			71,032
Diluted		70,700			70,900			70,997			71,032
2015
Revenues	$	42,330		$	44,883		$	46,084		$	44,996
(Loss) income from operations		(1,277	)		(11,566	)		3,193			2,435
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		(2,873	)		(12,208	)		1,591			239
Net (loss) income per common share-basic:
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		(0.04	)		(0.17	)		0.02			0.00
Net (loss) income per common share-diluted
Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.		(0.04	)		(0.17	)		0.02			0.00
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		70,238			70,427			70,460			70,546
Diluted		70,238			70,427			71,918			72,209