Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	8. Commitments and Contingencies Legal Matters The Company is, from time to time, party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. For example, the Company is currently named as a defendant or co-defendant in some patent infringement lawsuits in the U.S. and is indirectly participating in other U.S. patent infringement actions pursuant to its contractual indemnification obligations to certain customers. Based on evaluation of these matters and discussions with Company’s intellectual property litigation counsel, the Company believes that liabilities arising from or sums paid in settlement of these existing matters would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial condition. On September 15, 2008 and September 18, 2008, two putative securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (the “Court) on behalf of alleged stockholders of the Company. On December 11, 2008, these lawsuits were consolidated into a single action and in May 2010, the consolidated lawsuits were captioned the case In re Novatel Wireless Securities Litigation (the “Litigation”). The Litigation is being pursued on behalf of persons who purchased the Company’s common stock between February 27, 2007 and September 15, 2008. As previously disclosed, on December 6, 2013, to avoid the costs, disruption and distraction of further litigation, legal counsel for the defendants entered into a binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with legal counsel for the lead plaintiffs, reflecting a proposed agreement to settle the Litigation. The proposed agreement did not admit any liability and the Company and the individual defendants continue to deny any and all liability. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the Company would pay $6 million in cash, $5 million in the Company’s common stock and a $5 million secured promissory note, to resolve all claims asserted in the Litigation on behalf of class members. A portion of the $6 million in cash would be funded by insurers for the Company. The $5 million in shares of the Company’s common stock would be unrestricted and freely tradable shares and either registered or exempt from registration at the time of issuance and distribution to class members, which would occur within 10 business days after the entry of a final order of approval by the Court. The $5 million secured note, with a 5% interest rate, would have a 30 month maturity and be secured by the Company’s accounts receivables. The Company has the right, at its sole option, to substitute cash for the note prior to the entry of final approval by the Court. The settlement is subject to the following conditions: (1) the funding by the Company of the settlement; (2) the Company’s right to terminate the settlement if an agreed upon portion of the class members deliver timely and valid requests for exclusion from the class; (3) entry of final judgment by the Court approving the settlement; and (4) satisfaction of waiver of all covenants in the MOU. On March 7, 2014, the Court entered an order giving preliminary approval to the settlement. The Court set a hearing on June 20, 2014, for final approval of the settlement of the Litigation. Indemnification In the normal course of business, the Company periodically enters into agreements that require the Company to indemnify and defend its customers for, among other things, claims alleging that the Company’s products infringe third-party patents or other intellectual property rights. The Company’s maximum exposure under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated but the Company does not believe that there are any matters individually or collectively that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

The Company is, from time to time, party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. For example, the Company is currently named as a defendant or co-defendant in some patent infringement lawsuits in the U.S. and is indirectly participating in other U.S. patent infringement actions pursuant to its contractual indemnification obligations to certain customers. Based on evaluation of these matters and discussions with Company’s intellectual property litigation counsel, the Company believes that liabilities arising from or sums paid in settlement of these existing matters would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

On September 15, 2008 and September 18, 2008, two putative securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (the “Court) on behalf of alleged stockholders of the Company. On December 11, 2008, these lawsuits were consolidated into a single action and in May 2010, the consolidated lawsuits were captioned the case In re Novatel Wireless Securities Litigation (the “Litigation”). The Litigation is being pursued on behalf of persons who purchased the Company’s common stock between February 27, 2007 and September 15, 2008. As previously disclosed, on December 6, 2013, to avoid the costs, disruption and distraction of further litigation, legal counsel for the defendants entered into a binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with legal counsel for the lead plaintiffs, reflecting a proposed agreement to settle the Litigation. The proposed agreement did not admit any liability and the Company and the individual defendants continue to deny any and all liability. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the Company would pay $6 million in cash, $5 million in the Company’s common stock and a $5 million secured promissory note, to resolve all claims asserted in the Litigation on behalf of class members. A portion of the $6 million in cash would be funded by insurers for the Company. The $5 million in shares of the Company’s common stock would be unrestricted and freely tradable shares and either registered or exempt from registration at the time of issuance and distribution to class members, which would occur within 10 business days after the entry of a final order of approval by the Court. The $5 million secured note, with a 5% interest rate, would have a 30 month maturity and be secured by the Company’s accounts receivables. The Company has the right, at its sole option, to substitute cash for the note prior to the entry of final approval by the Court. The settlement is subject to the following conditions: (1) the funding by the Company of the settlement; (2) the Company’s right to terminate the settlement if an agreed upon portion of the class members deliver timely and valid requests for exclusion from the class; (3) entry of final judgment by the Court approving the settlement; and (4) satisfaction of waiver of all covenants in the MOU.

On March 7, 2014, the Court entered an order giving preliminary approval to the settlement. The Court set a hearing on June 20, 2014, for final approval of the settlement of the Litigation.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Company periodically enters into agreements that require the Company to indemnify and defend its customers for, among other things, claims alleging that the Company’s products infringe third-party patents or other intellectual property rights. The Company’s maximum exposure under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated but the Company does not believe that there are any matters individually or collectively that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.