Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 69,644	$ 56,957	$ 135,348	$ 108,878
Total revenues	70,788	56,957	138,761	108,878
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	19,029	13,333	36,529	25,574
Product development	3,042	1,923	5,855	3,511
Depreciation and amortization	11,842	11,400	24,065	22,422
Acquisition-related and integration costs	494	1,262	1,100	1,490
Loss from operations	(1,184)	(1,900)	(5,412)	(2,275)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	453	138	928	256
Other income (expense)	155	(183)	(12)	(178)
Interest expense	(5,301)	(4,843)	(10,501)	(7,269)
Loss on debt extinguishment		(3,868)		(3,868)
Total other expense	(4,693)	(8,756)	(9,585)	(11,059)
Loss before income taxes	(5,877)	(10,656)	(14,997)	(13,334)
Income taxes	1,225	90	2,168	713
Net loss	(7,102)	(10,746)	(17,165)	(14,047)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	120	(6)	143	36
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	(7,222)	(10,740)	(17,308)	(14,083)
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (7,233)	$ (10,740)	$ (17,319)	$ (14,083)
Per share information-basic:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.09)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.20)
Per share information-diluted:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.09)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.20)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	78,079	71,978	76,404	71,703
Diluted	78,079	71,978	76,404	71,703
Service [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 38,475	$ 31,077	$ 76,467	$ 60,589
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	12,392	10,649	27,940	20,218
Product [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	31,169	25,880	58,881	48,289
Total revenues	32,313	25,880	62,294	48,289
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	$ 25,173	$ 20,290	$ 48,684	$ 37,938