Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Deficit [Member] USD ($)	Stock Repurchase Obligation [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] USD ($)	Series B Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	Series B Preferred Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Series B Preferred Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock [Member] USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Long-term Debt [Member] USD ($)	Long-term Debt [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Long-term Debt [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Private Placement [Member] USD ($)	Private Placement [Member] Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Private Placement [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ (50,670)	$ 2	$ 42,964	$ (93,636)	$ 0	$ 0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		22,778,782
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (Note 3)	(133,886)		(33,639)	(100,247)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued	5,430		5,430				2,099		2,099
Issuance of common stock and recapitalization in connection with merger with Polaris Acquisition Corp. (in shares)		14,082,663
Issuance of common stock and recapitalization in connection with merger with Polaris Acquisition Corp.	19,652	2	94,006		(74,356)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants (in shares)		6,296,473
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants	37,028	1	37,027
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants using shares of redeemable preferred stock (in shares)		33,526,894
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants using shares of redeemable preferred stock	207,218	3	207,215
Stock issued during period, conversion of convertible securities (in shares)								12,500,000			2,000,000
Stock issued during period, conversion of convertible securities							109,750	1	109,749	20,000		20,000
Extinguishment of Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock prior to mandatory redemption date	(12,288)		(12,288)
Deemed dividend and accretion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	(56,619)		(56,619)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(7,439,978)
Repurchase of common stock	0		(74,355)		74,356
Issuance of common stock to advisors of Polaris Acquisition Corp. (in shares)		226,592
Issuance of common stock to advisors of Polaris Acquisition Corp.	1,989		1,989
Share-based compensation expense (in shares)		544,800
Share-based compensation expense	1,552		1,552
Issuance of common stock in connection with the warrant exchange (in shares)		54,731
Issuance of common stock in connection with the warrant exchange	(200)		(200)
Stock issued during period, new issues (in shares)																	2,516,667
Stock issed during period, new issues																7,229		7,229
Net loss	(163,661)			(163,661)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	(5,376)	9	352,159	(357,544)	0	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		87,087,624
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants using shares of redeemable preferred stock	0
Deemed dividend and accretion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	0
Share-based compensation expense (in shares)		407,280
Share-based compensation expense	2,946		2,946
Issuance of common stock in connection with the amendment of the senior unsecured promissory note (in shares)		50,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with the amendment of the senior unsecured promissory note	128		128
Stock issued during period, new issues (in shares)																	5,130,500
Stock issed during period, new issues																14,996		14,996
Contributions in connection with the formation of Lifecomm LLC	13,000					13,000
Non-cash services contributed to consolidated subsidiary by noncontrolling interests	1,505					1,505
Net loss	(89,561)			(87,906)		(1,655)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	(62,362)	9	370,229	(445,450)	0	12,850
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		92,675,404
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued	1,411		1,411
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of warrants using shares of redeemable preferred stock	0
Deemed dividend and accretion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock	0
Share-based compensation expense (in shares)		22,709
Share-based compensation expense	3,701		3,701
Stock issued during period, new issues (in shares)		325,000												6,232,369			6,304,427
Stock issed during period, new issues	1,706		1,706										24,930	1	24,929	24,328	1	24,327
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options (in shares)		14,085
Issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options	23		23
Issuance of common stock in connection with an amendment of the senior secured term indebtedness (in shares)		321,934
Issuance of common stock in connection with an amendment of the senior secured term indebtedness	1,288		1,288
Non-cash services contributed to consolidated subsidiary by noncontrolling interests	3,495					3,495
Net loss	(85,350)			(81,204)		(4,146)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ (86,830)	$ 11	$ 427,614	$ (526,654)	$ 0	$ 12,199
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		105,895,928

HUGHES Telematics, Inc. 10-K