Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 60,623	$ 67,707	$ 182,626	$ 197,552
Total revenues	61,742	69,193	184,653	202,331
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	16,417	18,211	53,621	52,842
Product development	3,308	3,686	9,912	11,385
Depreciation and amortization	12,654	12,794	38,427	37,998
Acquisition-related and integration costs	134	4	336	693
Income (loss) from operations	632	2,290	(2,372)	2,015
Other income (expense):
Interest income	260	444	941	1,408
Other (expense) income	(421)	188	(921)	130
Interest expense	(5,225)	(5,287)	(15,881)	(15,850)
Total other expense	(5,386)	(4,655)	(15,861)	(14,312)
Loss before income taxes	(4,754)	(2,365)	(18,233)	(12,297)
Income tax expense	789	1,504	788	3,354
Net loss	(5,543)	(3,869)	(19,021)	(15,651)
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18)	144	149	271
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	(5,525)	(4,013)	(19,170)	(15,922)
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (5,525)	$ (4,025)	$ (19,170)	$ (15,934)
Per share information-basic:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.20)
Per share information-diluted:
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.20)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	77,962	79,695	78,115	79,591
Diluted	77,962	79,695	78,115	79,591
Service [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 39,738	$ 40,550	$ 118,691	$ 119,295
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	12,968	12,568	38,608	39,123
Product [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	20,885	27,157	63,935	78,257
Total revenues	22,004	28,643	65,962	83,036
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below:
Cost of goods and services sold	$ 15,629	$ 19,640	$ 46,121	$ 58,275