Vocera Communications (VCRA) 10-Q 14 Nov 13 2013 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 06, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'VOCERA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001129260	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q2	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	24,892,350

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$18,285	$92,521
Short-term investments	106,947	34,989
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	20,260	21,697
Other receivables	954	550
Inventories	4,798	2,772
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,517	2,808
Total current assets	153,761	155,337
Property and equipment, net	5,651	3,631
Intangible assets, net	1,725	2,267
Goodwill	5,575	5,575
Other long-term assets	783	495
Total assets	167,495	167,305
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	2,963	2,854
Accrued payroll and other current liabilities	8,616	11,754
Deferred revenue, current	23,982	22,451
Total current liabilities	35,561	37,059
Deferred revenue, long-term	6,066	5,882
Other long-term liabilities	1,672	1,239
Total liabilities	43,299	44,180
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)	'	'
Stockholders' equity	'	'
Common stock, $0.0003 par value - 100,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012; 24,866,334 and 24,229,356 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	8	7
Additional paid-in capital	186,777	177,081
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2	5
Accumulated deficit	-62,591	-53,968
Total stockholders’ equity	124,196	123,125
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	167,495	167,305
Preferred Stock	'	'
Stockholders' equity	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.0003 par value - 5,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012; zero shares issued and outstanding	$0	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Paranthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Liabilities and stockholders' equity	'	'
Common stock par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock shares issued	24,866,334	24,229,356
Common stock shares outstanding	24,866,334	24,229,356
Preferred Stock	'	'
Liabilities and stockholders' equity	'	'
Preferred stock par value	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock shares outstanding	0	0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue	'	'	'	'
Service	$15,666	$16,851	$43,966	$47,643
Service	10,401	9,117	29,810	26,322
Total revenue	26,067	25,968	73,776	73,965
Cost of revenue	'	'	'	'
Product	5,635	5,237	15,581	16,138
Service	4,155	3,743	12,409	11,134
Total cost of revenue	9,790	8,980	27,990	27,272
Gross profit	16,277	16,988	45,786	46,693
Operating expenses	'	'	'	'
Research and development	3,798	3,043	10,830	8,248
Sales and marketing	11,791	8,532	32,702	24,064
General and administrative	4,073	3,745	11,000	10,449
Total operating expenses	19,662	15,320	54,532	42,761
(Loss) income from operations	-3,385	1,668	-8,746	3,932
Interest income	87	60	170	86
Interest expense and other finance charges	0	0	0	-74
Other (expense) income, net	76	50	-55	-1,442
(Loss) income before income taxes	-3,222	1,778	-8,631	2,502
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	120	-41	8	-420
Net (loss) income	-3,102	1,737	-8,623	2,082
Less: undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	0	-9	0	-1,299
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	($3,102)	$1,728	($8,623)	$783
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share, Basic	($0.13)	$0.08	($0.35)	$0.05
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	($0.13)	$0.07	($0.35)	$0.04
Weighted average shares used to compute net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders	'	'	'	'
Basic	24,747	22,450	24,530	15,973
Diluted	24,747	25,337	24,530	18,751

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	($3,102)	$1,737	($8,623)	$2,082
Other comprehensive income (loss), net:	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net	89	110	-3	-81
Comprehensive (loss) income	($3,013)	$1,847	($8,626)	$2,001

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net (loss) income	($8,623)	$2,082
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,798	1,932
Change in non-cash interest	-52	-39
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	0	2
Allowance for doubtful accounts	14	0
Inventory write-down	136	207
Change in lease-related performance liabilities	-104	0
Stock-based compensation expense	6,113	2,671
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	0	-300
Change in fair value of warrant liability	0	1,631
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	1,424	-4,862
Other receivables	-508	638
Inventories	-2,161	-72
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2	-951
Accounts payable	47	-1,231
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	-3,121	1,102
Deferred revenue	1,715	3,004
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-3,320	5,814
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Purchase of property and equipment	3,484	1,379
Purchase of short-term investments	-113,199	-87,383
Maturities of short-term investments	41,290	13,986
Net cash used in investing activities	-75,393	-74,776
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Cash from lease-related performance obligations	743	713
Principal payments on long-term borrowings	0	8,333
Proceeds from Issuance Initial Public Offering	0	72,217
Proceeds from secondary public offering, net of offering costs	0	35,996
Payment for repurchase of early exercised options	-14	-6
Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	0	300
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from the employee stock purchase plan	2,572	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,426	863
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for net share settlement	-476	0
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants	226	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	4,477	101,750
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-74,236	32,788
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	92,521	14,898
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	18,285	47,686
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Costs related to the initial public offering in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	0	190
Property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$112	$0

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Vocera Communications, Inc. (“Vocera” or the “Company”) is a provider of mobile communication solutions focused on addressing the challenges facing hospitals, as well as hospitality, power and other businesses with mission-critical communication needs, in the U.S. and internationally. Vocera helps its healthcare customers improve patient safety and satisfaction, and increase hospital efficiency and productivity through its Voice Communication, Secure Messaging, and Care Experience solutions, which are installed in more than 1,000 organizations worldwide. The Voice Communication solution, which includes a lightweight, wearable, voice-controlled communication badge, smartphone applications and an intelligent enterprise software platform, enables users to connect instantly with other staff simply by saying the name, function or group name of the desired recipient. The Secure Messaging solution securely delivers text messages and alerts directly to and from smartphones, replacing legacy pagers. Our Vocera Care Experience is a hosted, software solution suite that coordinates and streamlines patient-to-provider and provider-to-provider communication across the continuum of care.  The solution is used to provide personalized patient instructions and education, alert and notify physicians and caregivers of patients’ changing care plans, and track patient satisfaction pre, during, and post-hospitalization.  Vocera Care Experience is complemented by the Company’s Experience Innovation Network, a membership-based program to spread the adoption of leading strategies to improve patient and staff experience.
	The Company was incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2000. The Company formed wholly-owned subsidiaries Vocera Communications UK Ltd and Vocera Communications Australia Pty Ltd. in 2005, and Vocera Hand-Off Communications, Inc., Vocera Canada, Ltd. and ExperiaHealth, Inc. in 2010. In August 2013, we merged Vocera Hand-Off Communications, Inc. and ExperiaHealth, Inc. into our parent company, Vocera Communications, Inc.
	The Company completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock on April 2, 2012 in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"). The Company sold 5,000,000 shares and certain of its stockholders sold 1,727,500 shares, including 877,500 shares for the underwriters' over-allotment option, through a firm commitment underwritten, public offering. The shares were sold at the initial public offering price of $16.00 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs. The Company recorded proceeds of $70.5 million for the IPO, net of offering expenses and underwriters' discounts and commissions.
	The Company completed a follow-on offering of common stock on September 12, 2012 in accordance with the Securities Act. The Company sold 1,337,500 shares and certain of its stockholders sold 4,211,250 shares. Included in both of these sales was 723,750 shares for the underwriters' over-allotment option, through a firm commitment underwritten, public offering. The shares were sold at the public offering price of $28.75 per share for aggregate gross offering proceeds of $38.4 million to the Company and $121.1 million to the selling stockholders. The Company recorded proceeds of $36.0 million for the follow-on offering, net of offering expenses and underwriters' discounts and commissions.
	Basis of presentation
	The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and include the accounts of Vocera and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
	In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s interim consolidated financial information. The results for the quarter presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other interim period or any other future year.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. The estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, useful lives assigned to long-lived assets, excess and obsolete inventory charges, warranty reserves, stock-based compensation expense, provisions for income taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and such differences could be material to the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying value of the Company’s operating financial instruments, including accounts receivable, deposits, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued compensation, approximates fair value due to their short maturities. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are carried at fair value.
	Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
	The Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of money market funds, commercial paper, U.S. government agency notes, U.S. Treasury notes, municipal debt and corporate debt. These investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and re-evaluates the available-for-sale designations as of each balance sheet date. Investments with an original purchase maturity of less than three months are classified as cash equivalents, all those with longer maturities are classified as short-term investments.
	Deferred Costs of Revenue
	When the Company’s products have been delivered, but the product revenue associated with the arrangement has been deferred as a result of not meeting the revenue recognition criteria, the Company also defers the related inventory costs for the delivered items. The Company includes such deferred cost of revenue as part of “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the accompanying condensed, consolidated balance sheet.
	Revenue recognition
	The Company derives revenue from the sales of communication badges, smartphone application software, perpetual software licenses for enterprise software that is essential to the functionality of the communication badges, software maintenance, extended warranty and professional services. The Company also derives revenue from the sale of licenses for software that is not essential to the functionality of the communication badges. The Company's revenue recognition policy has not changed from that described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	A portion of the Company's sales are made through multi-year lease agreements with customers. When these arrangements are considered sales-type leases, upon delivery of leased products to customers, the Company recognizes revenue for such products in an amount equal to the net present value of the minimum lease payments. Unearned income is recognized as part of product revenue under the effective interest method. The Company recognizes revenue related to executory costs when such executory costs are incurred.
	Proceeds from transfers of sales-type leases to third-party financial companies are allocated between the net investment in sales-type leases and the executory cost component for remaining service obligations based on relative present value. The difference between the amount of proceeds allocated to the net investment in lease and the carrying value of the net investment in lease is included in product revenue. Proceeds allocated to the executory cost component are accounted for as financing liabilities.
	For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company transferred $0.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively, of lease receivables with immaterial net gains in each period. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of financing liabilities for future performance of executory service obligations. For lease receivables retained as of September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $1.1 million of net investment in sales-type leases, equivalent to the minimum lease payments less the unearned interest portion.
	Related party transactions
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 the Company billed a related party, the University of Chicago Medical Center (“UCMC”), $0.5 million for consulting services. One of the Company's board members, Sharon O’Keefe is also on the board of the UCMC. These transactions were recorded at arms-length prices.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new disclosure guidance related to the presentation of the statement of comprehensive income. This guidance eliminated the previous option to report other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and its components in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2012; the adoption had no material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. In February 2013, the FASB resolved the deferred guidance on OCI reclassifications with a new rule effective in the first quarter of 2013, which was adopted but did not have a material impact.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued new guidance for the gross versus net presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The FASB concluded that an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) or other tax credit carryforward when settlement in this manner is available under the tax law. The new guidance is effective for the Company's first quarter of 2014, applied prospectively. The Company has the option to apply the rule retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this standard is not expected to impact the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

Fair_value_of_financial_instru

Fair value of financial instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair value of financial instruments	'
	Fair value of financial instruments
	The Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are carried at their fair values with any differences from their amortized cost recorded in equity as unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities. As a basis for determining the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company established a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 there have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value instruments and no transfers in or out of Level 3.
	The Company's money market funds are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The fair value of the Company's Level 2 fixed income securities are obtained from independent pricing services, which may use quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments or model-driven valuations using observable market data or other inputs corroborated by observable market data.
	The Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by level, within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Total
	Assets
	Money market funds	$	989	$	—	$	989	$	45,040	$	—	$	45,040
	Commercial paper	—		4,134		4,134		—		32,487		32,487
	U.S. government agency securities	—		11,514		11,514		—		10,001		10,001
	U.S. Treasury securities	—		5,257		5,257		—		—		—
	Municipal debt securities	—		4,785		4,785		—		—		—
	Corporate debt securities	—		85,447		85,447		—		—		—
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	989	$	111,137	$	112,126	$	45,040	$	42,488	$	87,528
	The Company had no liabilities as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Shor

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	'
	Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
	The following tables present current and prior-year-end balances for cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (in thousands):
		As of September 30, 2013
		Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair value
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Demand deposits and other cash	$	13,106	$	—	$	—		$	13,106
	Money market funds	989		—		—			989
	Commercial paper	2,000		—		—			2,000
	Corporate debt securities	2,190		—		—			2,190
	Total cash and cash equivalents	18,285		—		—			18,285
	Short-Term Investments:
	Commercial paper	2,134		—		—			2,134
	U.S. government agency securities	11,511		5		(2		)	11,514
	U.S. Treasury securities	5,254		3		—			5,257
	Municipal debt securities	4,781		4		—			4,785
	Corporate debt securities	83,265		11		(19		)	83,257
	Total short-term investments	106,945		23		(21		)	106,947
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	125,230	$	23	$	(21	)	$	125,232
	The company has determined that the unrealized losses on cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2013 do not constitute an "other than temporary impairment."
		As of December 31, 2012
		Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair value
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Demand deposits and other cash	$	39,982	$	—	$	—		$	39,982
	Money market funds	45,040		—		—			45,040
	Commercial paper	7,498		1		—			7,499
	Total cash and cash equivalents	92,520		1		—			92,521
	Short-Term Investments:
	Commercial paper	24,987		1		—			24,988
	U.S. government agency securities	9,998		3		—			10,001
	Total short-term investments	34,985		4		—			34,989
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	127,505	$	5	$	—		$	127,510
	The tables above exclude restricted cash, primarily held in certificates of deposit, of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 which is classified in prepaids and other current assets on the balance sheet.
	Classification of the cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments by contractual maturity was as follows:
	(in thousands)	One year or shorter		Between 1 and 2 years		Total
	Balances as of September 30, 2013
	Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	18,285	$	—	$	18,285
	Short-term investments	77,668		29,279		106,947
	Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	95,953	$	29,279	$	125,232
	Balances as of December 31, 2012
	Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	92,521	$	—	$	92,521
	Short-term investments	34,989		—		34,989
	Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	127,510	$	—	$	127,510
	(1) Includes demand deposits and other cash, money market funds and other cash equivalent securities, all with 0-90 day maturity at purchase.

Income_loss_per_share

Income (loss) per share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Income (loss) per share	'
	Net (loss) income per share
	Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. Immediately prior to the completion of the Company's IPO in April 2012, holders of Series A through Series F convertible preferred stock were each entitled to receive non-cumulative dividends at the annual rate of 8% per share per annum, respectively, payable prior and in preference to any dividends on any shares of the Company’s common stock. In the event a dividend were to be paid on common stock, the holders of convertible preferred stock were entitled to a proportionate share of any such dividend as if they were holders of common stock (on an as-if converted basis). The holders of the convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share the losses of the Company. The Company considered its convertible preferred stock as participating securities. Additionally, the Company considers shares issued upon the early exercise of options subject to repurchase and unvested restricted shares to be participating securities as the holders of these shares have a non-forfeitable right to dividends. In accordance with the two-class method, earnings allocated to these participating securities and the related number of outstanding shares of the participating securities, which include contractual participation rights in undistributed earnings, have been excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share.
	Under the two-class method, net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders is determined by allocating undistributed earnings, calculated as net (loss) income less income attributable to participating securities between common stock and participating securities. In computing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share, undistributed earnings are re-allocated to reflect the potential impact of dilutive securities. Basic net (loss) income per common share is computed by dividing the net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. All participating securities are excluded from basic weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options using the treasury stock method.
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net (loss) income	$	(3,102	)		$	1,737		$	(8,623	)	$	2,082
	Less: undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	—				(9		)	—			(1,299		)
	Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders	(3,102		)		1,728			(8,623		)	783
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	—				1			—			26
	Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for diluted net income (loss) per share	$	(3,102	)		$	1,729		$	(8,623	)	$	809
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net (loss) income per common share - basic	24,747				22,450			24,530			15,973
	Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
	Employee stock options and restricted stock units	—				2,818			—			2,688
	Stock warrants	—				69			—			90
	Weighted average shares used to compute diluted income (loss) per common share	24,747				25,337			24,530			18,751
	Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders
	Basic	$	(0.13	)		$	0.08		$	(0.35	)	$	0.05
	Diluted	$	(0.13	)		$	0.07		$	(0.35	)	$	0.04
	The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted shares outstanding as the effect would have been anti-dilutive:
		Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013		2012
	Options to purchase common stock	3,347			405			3,324		339
	Common stock subject to repurchase	20			—			28		—
	Warrants to purchase common stock	44			—			44		—
	Restricted stock units	714			1			579		27
	Restricted stock awards	12			—			12		—

Goodwill_and_intangible_assets

Goodwill and intangible assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and intangible assets	'
	Goodwill and intangible assets
	Goodwill
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had $5.6 million of goodwill acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company performed the annual required test of impairment of goodwill as of September 30, 2013, using the qualitative approach (or "Step Zero") as permitted by FASB's rules for goodwill impairment testing. The Company’s annual impairment test did not indicate impairment at any of its reporting units. No impairment was recorded in 2012 or 2013.
	Triggering event for impairment analysis
	During the three months ended June 30, 2013, the Company experienced a 37% one-day decrease in share price following an earnings announcement on May 2, 2013 of below-guidance results for the first quarter of 2013 and reduced forward guidance for fiscal year 2013, which was considered a triggering event for further inquiry for both goodwill and the acquired intangibles. A "Step Zero" impairment assessment for goodwill and intangible assets was performed as part of this analysis. As of September 30, 2013, however, there were no changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying values of goodwill or acquired intangibles may not be recoverable.
	Intangible assets
	The fair values for acquired intangible assets were determined by management using the valuations performed by independent valuation specialists. Acquisition related intangible assets are amortized over the life of the assets on a basis that resembles the economic benefit of the assets. This results in amortization that is higher in earlier periods of the useful life. The estimated useful lives and carrying value of acquired intangible assets are as follows:
				September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
	(in thousands)	Weighted		Gross		Accumulated		Net		Gross		Accumulated		Net
		Average		Carrying		Amortization		Carrying		Carrying		Amortization		Carrying
		Useful Life		Amount				Amount		Amount				Amount
		(years)
	Customer relationships	9		$	2,350	$	1,366	$	984	$	2,350	$	1,117	$	1,233
	Developed technology	6		1,880		1,172		708		1,880		896		984
	Trademarks	7		70		40		30		70		30		40
	Non-compete agreements	2		70		67		3		70		60		10
	Intangible assets			$	4,370	$	2,645	$	1,725	$	4,370	$	2,103	$	2,267
	Amortization expense was $0.2 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Amortization expense was $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Amortization of acquired intangible assets is reflected in cost of revenue and operating expenses. The estimated future amortization of existing acquired intangible assets as of September 30, 2013 was as follows:
	(in thousands)		Future amortization
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	185
	2014		567
	2015		389
	2016		258
	2017		156
	2018		106
	Thereafter		64
	Future amortization expense		$	1,725

Balance_Sheet_Components

Balance Sheet Components	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Balance Sheet Components [Abstract]	'
Balance Sheet Components	'
	Balance Sheet Components
	Inventories
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Raw materials	$	698		$	23
	Finished goods	4,100			2,749
	Total inventories	$	4,798		$	2,772
	Property and equipment, net
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Computer equipment and software	$	7,180		$	4,127
	Furniture, fixtures and equipment	923			886
	Leasehold improvements	2,113			1,654
	Manufacturing tools and equipment	3,075			2,710
	Construction in process	461			1,100
	Property and equipment, at cost	13,752			10,477
	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(8,101		)	(6,846		)
	Property and equipment, net	$	5,651		$	3,631
	Depreciation and amortization expense was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense was $1.3 million and $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Accrued payroll and other current liabilities
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Payroll and related expenses	$	4,681		$	7,844
	Accrued payables	1,686			1,978
	Deferred rent, current portion	530			591
	Lease financing, current portion	486			212
	Product warranty	213			297
	Sales and use tax payable	570			397
	Other	450			435
	Total accrued payroll and other current liabilities	$	8,616		$	11,754
	The Company generally provides for the estimated costs of product warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. Costs are estimated based on historical and projected product failure rates, historical and projected repair or replacement costs, and knowledge of specific product failures (if any). The product warranty includes parts and labor over a period of one year. The Company provides no warranty for software. The Company regularly re-evaluates its estimates to assess the adequacy of the recorded warranty liabilities and to adjust the amounts as necessary.
	The changes in the Company's product warranty reserve are as follows:
		Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at the beginning of the period	$	202		$	776		$	297		$	983
	Warranty expense accrued for shipments in period	175			228			349			850
	Changes in liability related to pre-existing warranties	203			(194		)	430			(472		)
	Warranty settlements made	(367		)	(217		)	(863		)	(768		)
	Balance at the end of the period	$	213		$	593		$	213		$	593

Commitments

Commitments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments	'
	Commitments and contingencies
	Non-cancelable purchase commitments
	The Company enters into non-cancelable purchase commitments with its third-party manufacturer whereby the Company is required to purchase any inventory held by the third party manufacturer that have been purchased by them based on confirmed orders from the Company. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $4.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively, of raw material inventory was purchased and held by the third-party manufacturer which was subject to such purchase requirements.
	Leases
	The Company leases office space for its headquarters and subsidiaries under non-cancelable operating leases, which will expire between April 2014 and April 2017. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period, and has accrued for rent expense incurred but not paid. Facilities rent expense was $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Facilities rent expense was $1.5 million and $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Future minimum lease payments at September 30, 2013 under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:
	(in thousands)	Operating leases
	2013 (remaining three months)	$	396
	2014	1,536
	2015	1,476
	2016	436
	2017	28
	Total minimum lease payments	$	3,872
	Contingencies
	The Company undertakes, in the ordinary course of business, to (i) defend customers and other parties from certain third-party claims associated with allegations of trade secret misappropriation, infringement of copyright, patent or other intellectual property right, or tortious damage to persons or property and (ii) indemnify and hold harmless such parties from certain resulting damages, costs and other liabilities. The term of these undertakings may be perpetual and the maximum potential liability of the Company under certain of these undertakings is not determinable. Based on its historical experience, the Company believes the liability associated with these undertakings is minimal.
	The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that may require the Company to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of the individual. The Company currently has directors and officers insurance. As there has been no significant history of losses, no expense accrual has been made.
	Securities Litigation
	On August 1, 2013, a purported securities class action entitled Michael Brado v. Vocera Communications Inc., et al. was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, against the Company and certain of its officers, its board of directors, a former director and the underwriters for the Company's initial public offering. A second purported securities class action, entitled Duncan v. Vocera Communications Inc., et al., was filed on August 21, 2013, also in the Northern District of California, against the same parties. On September 27, 2013, the Court ordered the matters related. The suits purport to allege claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 for allegedly misleading statements in the registration statement for the Company's initial public offering and in subsequent communications regarding its business and financial results. The suits are purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of the Company's securities between March 28, 2012 and May 3, 2013, and seek compensatory damages, rescission, fees and costs, as well as equitable and injunctive or other relief. The plaintiffs’ motion for consolidation of the actions and for appointment of lead plaintiff has been granted, and we anticipate that the plaintiffs will file an amended consolidated complaint in approximately two months.  No response to the current complaints is due at this time.
	Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this matter. The Company is unable at this time to determine whether the outcome of the litigation would have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flow. The Company has not established any reserve for any potential liability relating to this lawsuit.

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw

Stock-based Compensation and Awards	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-based Compensation and Award	'
	Stock-based Compensation and Awards
	Equity Incentive Plans
	The Company has three equity incentive plans: the 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "2000 Plan"), the 2006 Stock Option Plan (the "2006 Plan") and the 2012 Stock Option Plan (the "2012 Plan"). On March 26, 2012, all shares that were reserved under the 2006 Plan but not subject to outstanding awards became available for grant under the 2012 Plan. No additional shares will be issued under the 2006 Plan. The 2000 Plan terminated in March 2010 and no additional shares will be issued under this plan. All options currently outstanding under the 2000 Plan and the 2006 Plan continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of those plans. Under the 2012 Plan, the Company has the ability to issue incentive stock options (“ISOs”), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance awards and stock bonuses. The ISOs will be granted at a price per share not less than the fair value at date of grant. Options granted to date generally vest over a four-year period with 25% vesting at the end of one year and the remaining vest monthly thereafter. Options granted generally are exercisable up to 10 years. As of September 30, 2013, there were 415,465 shares which remained available for future issuance of options, RSUs or other grant types under the 2012 Plan.
	Early Exercise of Stock Options
	The Company typically allows employees to exercise options granted under the 2000 and 2006 Plans prior to vesting. The unvested shares are subject to the Company’s repurchase right at the original purchase price. The proceeds initially are recorded as an accrued liability from the early exercise of stock options (see Note 6, "Accrued payroll and other current liabilities") and reclassified to common stock as the Company’s repurchase right lapses. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 20,381 and 48,260 shares held by employees were subject to repurchase at an aggregate price of $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
	Exercise of common stock warrants
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 holders of common stock warrants exercised 34,142 shares for cash proceeds of $0.2 million. There were no cash exercises in the prior year-to-date period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 holders of common stock warrants net exercised warrants for the purchase of 104,037 shares and received 75,462 shares. There were no such cashless exercises in the current year-to-date period.
	Stock Option Activity
	A summary of the stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is presented below:
		Options outstanding
		Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price			Weighted average remaining contractual term	Aggregate intrinsic value
								(in years)	(in thousands)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	3,187,559			$	7.51		6.8	$	56,362
	Options granted	606,960			16.79
	Options exercised	(364,590	)		3.63
	Options canceled	(109,702	)		13.17
	Options expired	(8,453	)		21.75
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013	3,311,774			$	9.41		6.8	$	33,974
	At September 30, 2013, there was $8.6 million of unrecognized net compensation cost related to options which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years. The Company did not grant non-employee options in either of the nine months ended September 30, 2013 or 2012.
	The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options on their grant date. This model requires the following inputs: the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock, the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the underlying common stock over the expected life of the option, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield.
	The following assumptions were used for each respective period for employee stock options:
		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Expected Term (in years)	5.38		5.48		5.38 - 5.43		5.48 - 5.60
	Volatility	46.70%		48.70%		46.7% - 48.1%		47.9% - 48.7%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.80%		0.72%		0.81% - 1.80%		0.72% - 1.03%
	Dividend yield	0%		0%		0%		0%
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	In March 2012, the Company’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) was approved. The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount through payroll deductions of up to 15% of their eligible compensation, subject to any plan limitations. The ESPP generally provides for six-month offering periods, except for the first offering period which was for eleven months. Additionally, in April 2013, the Company's compensation committee determined the next offering period under the ESPP, which will commence on August 15, 2013, will last for a duration of three months (expiring on November 14, 2013) and, following the expiration of such offering period, offering periods thereafter will commence on November 15, 2013, and May 15, 2014 and so on, each consisting of a single six-month purchase period.
	At the end of each offering period, employees are able to purchase shares at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the last day of the offering period. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, employees purchased 69,065 shares of common stock at an average purchase price of $14.14. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, employees purchased 184,849 shares of common stock at an average purchase price of $13.92. As of September 30, 2013, 224,110 shares remained available for future issuance under the ESPP.
	The following assumptions were used for each respective period for the ESPP:
		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Expected Term (in years)	0.25		0.88		0.25 - 0.50		0.88
	Volatility	33.30%		50.80%		33.30%		50.80%
	Risk-free interest rate	0.05%		0.18%		0.05% - 0.13%		0.18%
	Dividend yield	0%		0%		0%		0%
	Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units
	In 2012, the Company began incorporating restricted stock awards and RSUs as an element of the Company's compensation plans. In February 2012, the Company granted certain of its directors restricted stock which vests 50% on the first anniversary of the grant and 50% on the second anniversary of the grant. Since May 2012, the Company has granted certain employees RSUs, which vest one-third on the first anniversary of the grant date, one-third on the second anniversary of the grant date and one-third upon the third anniversary of the grant date.
	A summary of restricted stock and RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is presented below:
		Restricted Stock Awards							Restricted Stock Units
		Number of shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share				Number of shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	24,152			$	12.42			373,908			$	25.34
	Granted	—			—				482,862			16.82
	Vested	(12,076	)		12.42				(93,795	)		24.97
	Forfeited	—			—				(48,576	)		23.91
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013	12,076			$	12.42			714,399			$	19.7
	At September 30, 2013, there was $0.1 million of unrecognized net compensation cost related to restricted stock awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.4 years. At September 30, 2013, there was $11.2 million of unrecognized net compensation cost related to RSUs which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.2 years.
	Allocation of Stock-Based Compensation Expense
	Stock-based compensation expense is recognized based on a straight-line amortization method over the respective vesting period of the award and has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The Company estimated the expected forfeiture rate based on its historical experience, considering voluntary termination behaviors, trends of actual award forfeitures, and other events that will impact the forfeiture rate. To the extent the Company's actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, the stock-based compensation expense is adjusted accordingly.
	The following table presents the stock-based compensation allocation of expense (both for employees and non-employees):
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013				2012				2013				2012
	Cost of revenue	$	272			$	149			$	707			$	254
	Research and development	194				149				632				285
	Sales and marketing	816				452				2,121				722
	General and administrative	1,111				643				2,653				1,410
	Total stock-based compensation	$	2,393			$	1,393			$	6,113			$	2,671

Segments

Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segments	'
	Segments
	The Company has two operating segments which are both reportable business segments: (i) Product and (ii) Service, both of which are comprised of Vocera’s and its wholly-owned subsidiaries’ results from operations. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (CODM), or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer.
	The CODM regularly receives information related to revenue, cost of revenue, and gross profit for each operating segment, and uses this information to assess performance and make resource allocation decisions. All other financial information, including operating expenses and assets, is prepared and reviewed by the CODM on a consolidated basis. Assets are not a measure used to assess the performance of the Company by the CODM; therefore, the Company does not report assets by segment internally or in its financial statements.
	The following table presents a summary of the operating segments:
		Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012		2013			2012
	Revenue
	Product	$	15,666		$	16,851	$	43,966		$	47,643
	Service	10,401			9,117		29,810			26,322
	Total revenue	26,067			25,968		73,776			73,965
	Cost of Revenue
	Product	5,635			5,237		15,581			16,138
	Service	4,155			3,743		12,409			11,134
	Total cost of revenue	9,790			8,980		27,990			27,272
	Gross profit
	Product	10,031			11,614		28,385			31,505
	Service	6,246			5,374		17,401			15,188
	Total gross profit	16,277			16,988		45,786			46,693
	Operating expenses	19,662			15,320		54,532			42,761
	Interest (expense) income, net and other	163			110		115			(1,430		)
	(Loss) income before income taxes	$	(3,222	)	$	1,778	$	(8,631	)	$	2,502

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The income tax provision was $8,000 benefit and $420,000 expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The income tax provision was $120,000 benefit and $41,000 expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. The tax benefit (expense) in both periods in 2013 as well as in 2012 was primarily due to state income taxes and foreign taxes related to our international operations. The Company is forecasting an annual effective tax rate of a negative 0.87% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, as compared to a positive 16.80% annual effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. This change is primarily due to state and foreign tax expense on a consolidated pre-tax loss in 2013, as opposed to consolidated pre-tax income in 2012.
	Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax bases using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse.
	The Company determines its valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by considering both positive and negative evidence in order to ascertain whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Due to the history of losses the Company has generated in past years and the $8.6 million net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company believes that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets can be realized as of September 30, 2013. Accordingly, the Company has maintained the full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets previously determined for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	While the Company generated pretax profit in 2012, management believes it is appropriate to obtain confirmatory evidence that the Company's results of operations will sustain this profitability in 2013 and thereafter, before reversing a portion of the valuation allowance to earnings.
	The Company will review on a quarterly basis its conclusions about the appropriate amount of its deferred income tax asset valuation allowance. If the Company generates profits, it is likely that the US valuation allowance position may be reversed in the foreseeable future. The Company expects a significant benefit in the period the valuation allowance reversal is recorded and a significantly higher effective tax rate in periods following the valuation allowance reversal.
	As of September 30, 2013, there were no material changes to either the nature or the amounts of the uncertain tax positions previously determined for the year ended December 31, 2012.

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig1

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of presentation
	The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and include the accounts of Vocera and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
	In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s interim consolidated financial information. The results for the quarter presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other interim period or any other future year.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. The estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, useful lives assigned to long-lived assets, excess and obsolete inventory charges, warranty reserves, stock-based compensation expense, provisions for income taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and such differences could be material to the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying value of the Company’s operating financial instruments, including accounts receivable, deposits, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and accrued compensation, approximates fair value due to their short maturities. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are carried at fair value.
	Fair value of financial instruments
	The Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are carried at their fair values with any differences from their amortized cost recorded in equity as unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities. As a basis for determining the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company established a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 there have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value instruments and no transfers in or out of Level 3.
	The Company's money market funds are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. The fair value of the Company's Level 2 fixed income securities are obtained from independent pricing services, which may use quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments or model-driven valuations using observable market data or other inputs corroborated by observable market data
Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments	'
	Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
	The Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of money market funds, commercial paper, U.S. government agency notes, U.S. Treasury notes, municipal debt and corporate debt. These investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and re-evaluates the available-for-sale designations as of each balance sheet date. Investments with an original purchase maturity of less than three months are classified as cash equivalents, all those with longer maturities are classified as short-term investments.
Deferred Charges	'
	Deferred Costs of Revenue
	When the Company’s products have been delivered, but the product revenue associated with the arrangement has been deferred as a result of not meeting the revenue recognition criteria, the Company also defers the related inventory costs for the delivered items. The Company includes such deferred cost of revenue as part of “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the accompanying condensed, consolidated balance sheet.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue recognition
	The Company derives revenue from the sales of communication badges, smartphone application software, perpetual software licenses for enterprise software that is essential to the functionality of the communication badges, software maintenance, extended warranty and professional services. The Company also derives revenue from the sale of licenses for software that is not essential to the functionality of the communication badges. The Company's revenue recognition policy has not changed from that described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Lease, Policy	'
	A portion of the Company's sales are made through multi-year lease agreements with customers. When these arrangements are considered sales-type leases, upon delivery of leased products to customers, the Company recognizes revenue for such products in an amount equal to the net present value of the minimum lease payments. Unearned income is recognized as part of product revenue under the effective interest method. The Company recognizes revenue related to executory costs when such executory costs are incurred.
	Proceeds from transfers of sales-type leases to third-party financial companies are allocated between the net investment in sales-type leases and the executory cost component for remaining service obligations based on relative present value. The difference between the amount of proceeds allocated to the net investment in lease and the carrying value of the net investment in lease is included in product revenue. Proceeds allocated to the executory cost component are accounted for as financing liabilities.
Related Party Transactions Disclosure	'
	Related party transactions
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 the Company billed a related party, the University of Chicago Medical Center (“UCMC”), $0.5 million for consulting services. One of the Company's board members, Sharon O’Keefe is also on the board of the UCMC. These transactions were recorded at arms-length prices.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new disclosure guidance related to the presentation of the statement of comprehensive income. This guidance eliminated the previous option to report other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and its components in the consolidated statement of stockholders' equity. The Company adopted this accounting standard effective January 1, 2012; the adoption had no material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. In February 2013, the FASB resolved the deferred guidance on OCI reclassifications with a new rule effective in the first quarter of 2013, which was adopted but did not have a material impact.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued new guidance for the gross versus net presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The FASB concluded that an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) or other tax credit carryforward when settlement in this manner is available under the tax law. The new guidance is effective for the Company's first quarter of 2014, applied prospectively. The Company has the option to apply the rule retrospectively and early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this standard is not expected to impact the financial position or results of operations of the Company.
Earnings Per Share, Policy	'
	Basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for participating securities. Immediately prior to the completion of the Company's IPO in April 2012, holders of Series A through Series F convertible preferred stock were each entitled to receive non-cumulative dividends at the annual rate of 8% per share per annum, respectively, payable prior and in preference to any dividends on any shares of the Company’s common stock. In the event a dividend were to be paid on common stock, the holders of convertible preferred stock were entitled to a proportionate share of any such dividend as if they were holders of common stock (on an as-if converted basis). The holders of the convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share the losses of the Company. The Company considered its convertible preferred stock as participating securities. Additionally, the Company considers shares issued upon the early exercise of options subject to repurchase and unvested restricted shares to be participating securities as the holders of these shares have a non-forfeitable right to dividends. In accordance with the two-class method, earnings allocated to these participating securities and the related number of outstanding shares of the participating securities, which include contractual participation rights in undistributed earnings, have been excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per common share.
	Under the two-class method, net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders is determined by allocating undistributed earnings, calculated as net (loss) income less income attributable to participating securities between common stock and participating securities. In computing net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share, undistributed earnings are re-allocated to reflect the potential impact of dilutive securities. Basic net (loss) income per common share is computed by dividing the net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. All participating securities are excluded from basic weighted-average common shares outstanding. Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options using the treasury stock method.
Standard Product Warranty, Policy	'
	The Company generally provides for the estimated costs of product warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. Costs are estimated based on historical and projected product failure rates, historical and projected repair or replacement costs, and knowledge of specific product failures (if any). The product warranty includes parts and labor over a period of one year. The Company provides no warranty for software. The Company regularly re-evaluates its estimates to assess the adequacy of the recorded warranty liabilities and to adjust the amounts as necessary.
Goodwill, Policy	'
	Goodwill
	As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had $5.6 million of goodwill acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company performed the annual required test of impairment of goodwill as of September 30, 2013, using the qualitative approach (or "Step Zero") as permitted by FASB's rules for goodwill impairment testing. The Company’s annual impairment test did not indicate impairment at any of its reporting units. No impairment was recorded in 2012 or 2013.
	Triggering event for impairment analysis
	During the three months ended June 30, 2013, the Company experienced a 37% one-day decrease in share price following an earnings announcement on May 2, 2013 of below-guidance results for the first quarter of 2013 and reduced forward guidance for fiscal year 2013, which was considered a triggering event for further inquiry for both goodwill and the acquired intangibles. A "Step Zero" impairment assessment for goodwill and intangible assets was performed as part of this analysis. As of September 30, 2013, however, there were no changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying values of goodwill or acquired intangibles may not be recoverable.
Intangible Assets, Policy	'
	Intangible assets
	The fair values for acquired intangible assets were determined by management using the valuations performed by independent valuation specialists. Acquisition related intangible assets are amortized over the life of the assets on a basis that resembles the economic benefit of the assets. This results in amortization that is higher in earlier periods of the useful life.
Commitments and Contingencies, Policy	'
	Contingencies
	The Company undertakes, in the ordinary course of business, to (i) defend customers and other parties from certain third-party claims associated with allegations of trade secret misappropriation, infringement of copyright, patent or other intellectual property right, or tortious damage to persons or property and (ii) indemnify and hold harmless such parties from certain resulting damages, costs and other liabilities. The term of these undertakings may be perpetual and the maximum potential liability of the Company under certain of these undertakings is not determinable. Based on its historical experience, the Company believes the liability associated with these undertakings is minimal.
	The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that may require the Company to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of the individual. The Company currently has directors and officers insurance.
Operating leases	'
	Leases
	The Company leases office space for its headquarters and subsidiaries under non-cancelable operating leases, which will expire between April 2014 and April 2017. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease period, and has accrued for rent expense incurred but not paid.
Purchase commitments	'
	Non-cancelable purchase commitments
	The Company enters into non-cancelable purchase commitments with its third-party manufacturer whereby the Company is required to purchase any inventory held by the third party manufacturer that have been purchased by them based on confirmed orders from the Company. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, approximately $4.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively, of raw material inventory was purchased and held by the third-party manufacturer which was subject to such purchase requirements.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Allocation of Stock-Based Compensation Expense
	Stock-based compensation expense is recognized based on a straight-line amortization method over the respective vesting period of the award and has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The Company estimated the expected forfeiture rate based on its historical experience, considering voluntary termination behaviors, trends of actual award forfeitures, and other events that will impact the forfeiture rate. To the extent the Company's actual forfeiture rate is different from the estimate, the stock-based compensation expense is adjusted accordingly.
	Equity Incentive Plans
	The Company has three equity incentive plans: the 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "2000 Plan"), the 2006 Stock Option Plan (the "2006 Plan") and the 2012 Stock Option Plan (the "2012 Plan"). On March 26, 2012, all shares that were reserved under the 2006 Plan but not subject to outstanding awards became available for grant under the 2012 Plan. No additional shares will be issued under the 2006 Plan. The 2000 Plan terminated in March 2010 and no additional shares will be issued under this plan. All options currently outstanding under the 2000 Plan and the 2006 Plan continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of those plans. Under the 2012 Plan, the Company has the ability to issue incentive stock options (“ISOs”), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance awards and stock bonuses. The ISOs will be granted at a price per share not less than the fair value at date of grant. Options granted to date generally vest over a four-year period with 25% vesting at the end of one year and the remaining vest monthly thereafter. Options granted generally are exercisable up to 10 years.
Segment Reporting, Policy	'
	The Company has two operating segments which are both reportable business segments: (i) Product and (ii) Service, both of which are comprised of Vocera’s and its wholly-owned subsidiaries’ results from operations. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (CODM), or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer.
	The CODM regularly receives information related to revenue, cost of revenue, and gross profit for each operating segment, and uses this information to assess performance and make resource allocation decisions. All other financial information, including operating expenses and assets, is prepared and reviewed by the CODM on a consolidated basis. Assets are not a measure used to assess the performance of the Company by the CODM; therefore, the Company does not report assets by segment internally or in its financial statements.
Income Tax, Policy	'
	Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities in the financial statements and their respective tax bases using tax rates expected to be in effect during the years in which the basis differences reverse.
	The Company determines its valuation allowance on deferred tax assets by considering both positive and negative evidence in order to ascertain whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Due to the history of losses the Company has generated in past years and the $8.6 million net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company believes that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets can be realized as of September 30, 2013. Accordingly, the Company has maintained the full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets previously determined for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	While the Company generated pretax profit in 2012, management believes it is appropriate to obtain confirmatory evidence that the Company's results of operations will sustain this profitability in 2013 and thereafter, before reversing a portion of the valuation allowance to earnings.
	The Company will review on a quarterly basis its conclusions about the appropriate amount of its deferred income tax asset valuation allowance. If the Company generates profits, it is likely that the US valuation allowance position may be reversed in the foreseeable future. The Company expects a significant benefit in the period the valuation allowance reversal is recorded and a significantly higher effective tax rate in periods following the valuation allowance reversal.

Fair_value_of_financial_instru1

Fair value of financial instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by level	'
	The Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by level, within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Level 1		Level 2		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Total
	Assets
	Money market funds	$	989	$	—	$	989	$	45,040	$	—	$	45,040
	Commercial paper	—		4,134		4,134		—		32,487		32,487
	U.S. government agency securities	—		11,514		11,514		—		10,001		10,001
	U.S. Treasury securities	—		5,257		5,257		—		—		—
	Municipal debt securities	—		4,785		4,785		—		—		—
	Corporate debt securities	—		85,447		85,447		—		—		—
	Total assets measured at fair value	$	989	$	111,137	$	112,126	$	45,040	$	42,488	$	87,528

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Shor1

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Schedule of cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments	'
	The following tables present current and prior-year-end balances for cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (in thousands):
		As of September 30, 2013
		Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair value
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Demand deposits and other cash	$	13,106	$	—	$	—		$	13,106
	Money market funds	989		—		—			989
	Commercial paper	2,000		—		—			2,000
	Corporate debt securities	2,190		—		—			2,190
	Total cash and cash equivalents	18,285		—		—			18,285
	Short-Term Investments:
	Commercial paper	2,134		—		—			2,134
	U.S. government agency securities	11,511		5		(2		)	11,514
	U.S. Treasury securities	5,254		3		—			5,257
	Municipal debt securities	4,781		4		—			4,785
	Corporate debt securities	83,265		11		(19		)	83,257
	Total short-term investments	106,945		23		(21		)	106,947
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	125,230	$	23	$	(21	)	$	125,232
	The company has determined that the unrealized losses on cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2013 do not constitute an "other than temporary impairment."
		As of December 31, 2012
		Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair value
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Demand deposits and other cash	$	39,982	$	—	$	—		$	39,982
	Money market funds	45,040		—		—			45,040
	Commercial paper	7,498		1		—			7,499
	Total cash and cash equivalents	92,520		1		—			92,521
	Short-Term Investments:
	Commercial paper	24,987		1		—			24,988
	U.S. government agency securities	9,998		3		—			10,001
	Total short-term investments	34,985		4		—			34,989
	Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	127,505	$	5	$	—		$	127,510
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block]	'
	Classification of the cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments by contractual maturity was as follows:
	(in thousands)	One year or shorter		Between 1 and 2 years		Total
	Balances as of September 30, 2013
	Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	18,285	$	—	$	18,285
	Short-term investments	77,668		29,279		106,947
	Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	95,953	$	29,279	$	125,232
	Balances as of December 31, 2012
	Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$	92,521	$	—	$	92,521
	Short-term investments	34,989		—		34,989
	Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	127,510	$	—	$	127,510
	(1) Includes demand deposits and other cash, money market funds and other cash equivalent securities, all with 0-90 day maturity at purchase.

Income_loss_per_share_Tables

Income (loss) per share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Three months ended September 30,							Nine months ended September 30,
		2013				2012			2013			2012
	Numerator:
	Net (loss) income	$	(3,102	)		$	1,737		$	(8,623	)	$	2,082
	Less: undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	—				(9		)	—			(1,299		)
	Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders	(3,102		)		1,728			(8,623		)	783
	Reallocation of undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	—				1			—			26
	Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders for diluted net income (loss) per share	$	(3,102	)		$	1,729		$	(8,623	)	$	809
	Denominator:
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net (loss) income per common share - basic	24,747				22,450			24,530			15,973
	Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
	Employee stock options and restricted stock units	—				2,818			—			2,688
	Stock warrants	—				69			—			90
	Weighted average shares used to compute diluted income (loss) per common share	24,747				25,337			24,530			18,751
	Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders
	Basic	$	(0.13	)		$	0.08		$	(0.35	)	$	0.05
	Diluted	$	(0.13	)		$	0.07		$	(0.35	)	$	0.04
Schedule of antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	'
	The following securities were not included in the calculation of diluted shares outstanding as the effect would have been anti-dilutive:
		Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013		2012
	Options to purchase common stock	3,347			405			3,324		339
	Common stock subject to repurchase	20			—			28		—
	Warrants to purchase common stock	44			—			44		—
	Restricted stock units	714			1			579		27
	Restricted stock awards	12			—			12		—

Goodwill_and_intangible_assets1

Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated useful lives and carrying value of acquired intangible assets are as follows:
				September 30, 2013						December 31, 2012
	(in thousands)	Weighted		Gross		Accumulated		Net		Gross		Accumulated		Net
		Average		Carrying		Amortization		Carrying		Carrying		Amortization		Carrying
		Useful Life		Amount				Amount		Amount				Amount
		(years)
	Customer relationships	9		$	2,350	$	1,366	$	984	$	2,350	$	1,117	$	1,233
	Developed technology	6		1,880		1,172		708		1,880		896		984
	Trademarks	7		70		40		30		70		30		40
	Non-compete agreements	2		70		67		3		70		60		10
	Intangible assets			$	4,370	$	2,645	$	1,725	$	4,370	$	2,103	$	2,267
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]	'
	Amortization of acquired intangible assets is reflected in cost of revenue and operating expenses. The estimated future amortization of existing acquired intangible assets as of September 30, 2013 was as follows:
	(in thousands)		Future amortization
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	185
	2014		567
	2015		389
	2016		258
	2017		156
	2018		106
	Thereafter		64
	Future amortization expense		$	1,725

Balance_Sheet_Components_Table

Balance Sheet Components (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Balance Sheet Components [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Raw materials	$	698		$	23
	Finished goods	4,100			2,749
	Total inventories	$	4,798		$	2,772
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and equipment, net
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Computer equipment and software	$	7,180		$	4,127
	Furniture, fixtures and equipment	923			886
	Leasehold improvements	2,113			1,654
	Manufacturing tools and equipment	3,075			2,710
	Construction in process	461			1,100
	Property and equipment, at cost	13,752			10,477
	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(8,101		)	(6,846		)
	Property and equipment, net	$	5,651		$	3,631
	Depreciation and amortization expense was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense was $1.3 million and $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
Accrued Liabilities	'
	Accrued payroll and other current liabilities
	(in thousands)	September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Payroll and related expenses	$	4,681		$	7,844
	Accrued payables	1,686			1,978
	Deferred rent, current portion	530			591
	Lease financing, current portion	486			212
	Product warranty	213			297
	Sales and use tax payable	570			397
	Other	450			435
	Total accrued payroll and other current liabilities	$	8,616		$	11,754
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability	'
	The changes in the Company's product warranty reserve are as follows:
		Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012			2013			2012
	Balance at the beginning of the period	$	202		$	776		$	297		$	983
	Warranty expense accrued for shipments in period	175			228			349			850
	Changes in liability related to pre-existing warranties	203			(194		)	430			(472		)
	Warranty settlements made	(367		)	(217		)	(863		)	(768		)
	Balance at the end of the period	$	213		$	593		$	213		$	593

Commitments_Tables

Commitments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	'
	Future minimum lease payments at September 30, 2013 under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:
	(in thousands)	Operating leases
	2013 (remaining three months)	$	396
	2014	1,536
	2015	1,476
	2016	436
	2017	28
	Total minimum lease payments	$	3,872

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw1

Stock-based Compensation and Awards (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Rollforward of stock option activity	'
	A summary of the stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is presented below:
		Options outstanding
		Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price			Weighted average remaining contractual term	Aggregate intrinsic value
								(in years)	(in thousands)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	3,187,559			$	7.51		6.8	$	56,362
	Options granted	606,960			16.79
	Options exercised	(364,590	)		3.63
	Options canceled	(109,702	)		13.17
	Options expired	(8,453	)		21.75
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013	3,311,774			$	9.41		6.8	$	33,974
Stock option valuation assumptions	'
	The following assumptions were used for each respective period for employee stock options:
		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Expected Term (in years)	5.38		5.48		5.38 - 5.43		5.48 - 5.60
	Volatility	46.70%		48.70%		46.7% - 48.1%		47.9% - 48.7%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.80%		0.72%		0.81% - 1.80%		0.72% - 1.03%
	Dividend yield	0%		0%		0%		0%
ESPP Valuation Assumptions	'
	The following assumptions were used for each respective period for the ESPP:
		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Expected Term (in years)	0.25		0.88		0.25 - 0.50		0.88
	Volatility	33.30%		50.80%		33.30%		50.80%
	Risk-free interest rate	0.05%		0.18%		0.05% - 0.13%		0.18%
	Dividend yield	0%		0%		0%		0%
Rollforward of RSA and RSU activty	'
	A summary of restricted stock and RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 is presented below:
		Restricted Stock Awards							Restricted Stock Units
		Number of shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share				Number of shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	24,152			$	12.42			373,908			$	25.34
	Granted	—			—				482,862			16.82
	Vested	(12,076	)		12.42				(93,795	)		24.97
	Forfeited	—			—				(48,576	)		23.91
	Outstanding at September 30, 2013	12,076			$	12.42			714,399			$	19.7
Allocation of Recognized Period Costs	'
	The following table presents the stock-based compensation allocation of expense (both for employees and non-employees):
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013				2012				2013				2012
	Cost of revenue	$	272			$	149			$	707			$	254
	Research and development	194				149				632				285
	Sales and marketing	816				452				2,121				722
	General and administrative	1,111				643				2,653				1,410
	Total stock-based compensation	$	2,393			$	1,393			$	6,113			$	2,671

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Summary of the operating segments	'
	The following table presents a summary of the operating segments:
		Three months ended September 30,					Nine months ended September 30,
	(in thousands)	2013			2012		2013			2012
	Revenue
	Product	$	15,666		$	16,851	$	43,966		$	47,643
	Service	10,401			9,117		29,810			26,322
	Total revenue	26,067			25,968		73,776			73,965
	Cost of Revenue
	Product	5,635			5,237		15,581			16,138
	Service	4,155			3,743		12,409			11,134
	Total cost of revenue	9,790			8,980		27,990			27,272
	Gross profit
	Product	10,031			11,614		28,385			31,505
	Service	6,246			5,374		17,401			15,188
	Total gross profit	16,277			16,988		45,786			46,693
	Operating expenses	19,662			15,320		54,532			42,761
	Interest (expense) income, net and other	163			110		115			(1,430		)
	(Loss) income before income taxes	$	(3,222	)	$	1,778	$	(8,631	)	$	2,502

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig2

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Apr. 04, 2012	Apr. 02, 2012	Sep. 13, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
		IPO	IPO	Follow-on common stock offering [Member]	Maximum	Minimum
Sale of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares sold at initial public offering	'	5,000,000	'	1,337,500	'	'
Shares sold at initial public offering by certain stockholders	'	1,727,500	'	4,211,250	'	'
Shares for the underwriters' over-allotment option	'	877,500	'	723,750	'	'
Share Price	'	'	$16	$28.75	'	'
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	'	'	'	$38.40	'	'
Proceeds from Follow-on Offering, Stockholders	'	'	'	121.1	'	'
Proceeds from follow-on public offering, net of offering costs	'	'	'	36	'	'
Proceeds from IPO, Net of Two Year Offering Costs	'	$70.50	'	'	'	'
Professional service revenue recognition period	'	'	'	'	'P12W	'P2W
Maintenance services revenue recognition period	'1 year	'	'	'	'	'

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig3

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Sales type lease data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract]	'	'
Maintenance services revenue recognition period	'	'1 year
sales type capital leases transfered to banks	$0.20	$1
Initial financing liability during period incurred for future executory services on transfered leases	0.2	0.7
Capital Leases, Net Investment in Sales Type Leases	$1.10	$1.10

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig4

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Cash equivalents and s-t investments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$18,285	$92,521	$47,686	$14,898

Fair_value_of_financial_instru2

Fair value of financial instruments Schedule of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, by level (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	$0	'
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	0	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	18,285	92,521
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	106,947	34,989
Fair Value, Level 3 Transfers in, Description	0	'
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3	0	'
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total assets measured at fair value	989	45,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total assets measured at fair value	111,137	42,488
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Total assets measured at fair value	112,126	87,528
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	989	45,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	989	45,040
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial paper | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial paper | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,134	32,487
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Commercial paper | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,134	32,487
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. government agency securities | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. government agency securities | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	11,514	10,001
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. government agency securities | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	11,514	10,001
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Treasury securities | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Treasury securities | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	5,257	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | U.S. Treasury securities | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	5,257	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Municipal debt securities | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Municipal debt securities | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,785	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Municipal debt securities | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,785	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate debt securities | Level 1	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate debt securities | Level 2	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	85,447	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate debt securities | Total	'	'
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	$85,447	$0

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Shor2

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments Schedule of Avaialable for Sale Securities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of available for sale securities [Line Items]	'	'
Restricted cash	$305	$304
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Amortized Cost	18,285	92,520
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	1
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	18,285	92,521
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	106,945	34,985
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	23	4
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	21	0
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	106,947	34,989
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
Cash, Cash Equiv. And S-T Investments, Amortized Cost	125,230	127,505
Cash, Cash Equiv. And S-T Investments, Gross Unrealized Gains	23	5
Cash, Cash Equiv. And S-T Investments, Gross Unrealized Losses	21	0
Cash, Cash Equiv. And S-T Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	125,232	127,510
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Amortized Cost	2,190	'
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	'
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	2,190	'
Demand deposits and other cash	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Amortized Cost	13,106	39,982
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	13,106	39,982
Money market funds	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Amortized Cost	989	45,040
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	989	45,040
Commercial Paper	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents [Abstract]	'	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Amortized Cost	2,000	7,498
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Gains	0	1
Cash And Cash Equivalents, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure	2,000	7,499
Commercial paper	'	'
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	2,134	24,987
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	0	1
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	0	0
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	2,134	24,988
U.S. Treasury securities	'	'
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	5,254	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	3	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	0	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	5,257	'
Municipal debt securities	'	'
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	4,781	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	4	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	0	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	4,785	'
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	83,265	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	11	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	19	'
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	83,257	'
U.S. government agency securities	'	'
Short-term Investments [Abstract]	'	'
AFS Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	11,511	9,998
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gain1	5	3
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss1	2	0
AFS Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	$11,514	$10,001

Cash_Cash_Equivalents_and_Shor3

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments Contractual maturities of cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	$18,285	$92,521
Short-term investments	106,947	34,989
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	125,232	127,510
Maturity up to one year [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	18,285	92,521
Short-term investments	77,668	34,989
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	95,953	127,510
maturity between 1 and 2 years [Member]	'	'
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents (1)	0	0
Short-term investments	29,279	0
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$29,279	$0

Income_loss_per_share_Schedule

Income (loss) per share Schedule of the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Numerator:	'	'	'	'
Net (loss) income	($3,102)	$1,737	($8,623)	$2,082
Less: undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities	0	9	0	1,299
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	-3,102	1,728	-8,623	783
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share	0	-1	0	-26
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	($3,102)	$1,729	($8,623)	$809
Denominator:	'	'	'	'
Weighted-average shares used to compute net (loss) income per common share - basic	24,747	22,450	24,530	15,973
Employee stock options and restricted stock units	0	2,818	0	2,688
Stock warrants	0	69	0	90
Weighted average shares used to compute diluted income (loss) per common share	24,747	25,337	24,530	18,751
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share, Basic	($0.13)	$0.08	($0.35)	$0.05
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	($0.13)	$0.07	($0.35)	$0.04
Dividends, Preferred Stock [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Annual dividend rate	'	'	8.00%	'

Income_loss_per_share_Schedule1

Income (loss) per share Schedule of antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Options to purchase common stock	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,347	405	3,324	339
Common stock subject to repurchase	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	20	0	28	0
Warrants to purchase common stock	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	44	0	44	0
Restricted stock units	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	714	1	579	27
Restricted stock awards	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	12	0	12	0

Goodwill_and_intangible_assets2

Goodwill and intangible assets Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	$5,575	'	$5,575	'	$5,575
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	4,370	'	4,370	'	4,370
Accumulated Amortization	2,645	'	2,645	'	2,103
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,725	'	1,725	'	2,267
Intangibles- period amortization expense [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Amortization expense	200	220	500	700	'
Customer relationships	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'	'	'9 years	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	2,350	'	2,350	'	2,350
Accumulated Amortization	1,366	'	1,366	'	1,117
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	984	'	984	'	1,233
Developed technology	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'	'	'6 years	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	1,880	'	1,880	'	1,880
Accumulated Amortization	1,172	'	1,172	'	896
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	708	'	708	'	984
Trademarks	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'	'	'7 years	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	70	'	70	'	70
Accumulated Amortization	40	'	40	'	30
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	30	'	30	'	40
Non-compete agreements	'	'	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'	'	'2 years	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	70	'	70	'	70
Accumulated Amortization	67	'	67	'	60
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$3	'	$3	'	$10

Goodwill_and_intangible_assets3

Goodwill and intangible assets Future amortization schedule (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp Remainder 2013	$185	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, 2014	567	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, 2015	389	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, 2016	258	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, 2017	156	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, 2018	106	'
Finite-Lived Intangibles, AmortExp, after 5th Year	64	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$1,725	$2,267

Balance_Sheet_Components_Inven

Balance Sheet Components Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$698	$23
Finished goods	4,100	2,749
Total inventories	$4,798	$2,772

Balance_Sheet_Components_Prope

Balance Sheet Components Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$13,752	'	$13,752	'	$10,477
Less: Accumulated depreciation	-8,101	'	-8,101	'	-6,846
Property and equipment, net	5,651	'	5,651	'	3,631
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation	500	434	1,300	1,300	'
Product Liability, Warranty Period	'	'	'1 year	'	'
Computer equipment and software	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	7,180	'	7,180	'	4,127
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	923	'	923	'	886
Leasehold improvements	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,113	'	2,113	'	1,654
Manufacturing tools and equipment	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,075	'	3,075	'	2,710
Construction in process	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$461	'	$461	'	$1,100

Balance_Sheet_Components_Accru

Balance Sheet Components Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Payroll and related expenses	$4,681	$7,844
Accrued payables	1,686	1,978
Deferred Rent Credit, Current	530	591
Lease financing, current portion	486	212
Product warranty	213	297
Sales and use tax payable	570	397
Other	450	435
Total accrued payroll and other current liabilities	$8,616	$11,754

Balance_Sheet_Components_Sched

Balance Sheet Components Schedule of Product Liability (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Product Warranty [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Product Liability, Warranty Period	'	'	'1 year	'
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Product warranty accrual, at the beginning of the period	$202	$776	$297	$983
Warranty expenses accrued	175	228	349	850
Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease)	203	-194	430	-472
Warranty settlements made	-367	-217	-863	-768
Product warranty accrual, at the end of period	$213	$593	$213	$593

Commitments_Schedule_of_Future

Commitments Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
					Inventories	Inventories
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Non-cancelable purchase commitment with a third party manufacturer to purchase inventory	'	'	'	'	$4,200,000	$4,100,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	500,000	500,000	1,500,000	1,400,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, by FY	'	'	'	'	'	'
Remainder of 2013	396,000	'	396,000	'	'	'
2014	1,536,000	'	1,536,000	'	'	'
2015	1,476,000	'	1,476,000	'	'	'
2016	436,000	'	436,000	'	'	'
2017	28,000	'	28,000	'	'	'
Total minimum lease payments	$3,872,000	'	$3,872,000	'	'	'

Commitments_Litigation_alleged

Commitments Litigation: alleged shareholder class action (Details) (Uninsured Risk [Member], Pending Litigation [Member], Michael Brado v Vocera Communications, Inc., et al [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Uninsured Risk [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member] | Michael Brado v Vocera Communications, Inc., et al [Member]	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Loss Contingency, Lawsuit Filing Date	'August 1, 2013
Loss Contingency, Name of Plaintiff	'Michael Brado v. Vocera Communications Inc., et al
Loss Contingency, Name of Defendant	'against the Company and certain of its officers, its board of directors, a former director and the underwriters for the Company's initial public offering.
Loss Contingency, Domicile of Litigation	'the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Loss Contingency, Allegations	'A second purported securities class action, entitled Duncan v. Vocera Communications Inc., et al., was filed on August 21, 2013, also in the Northern District of California, against the same parties. On September 27, 2013, the Court ordered the matters related. The suits purport to allege claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act of 1934 for allegedly misleading statements in the registration statement for the Company's initial public offering and in subsequent communications regarding its business and financial results. The suits are purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of the Company's securities between March 28, 2012 and May 3, 2013
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought	' seek compensatory damages, rescission, fees and costs, as well as equitable and injunctive or other relief
Loss Contingency, Actions Taken by Defendant	'The plaintiffs’ motion for consolidation of the actions and for appointment of lead plaintiff has been granted, and we anticipate that the plaintiffs will file an amended consolidated complaint in approximately two months.  No response to the current complaints is due at this time.
Loss Contingency, Inestimable Loss	'Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this matter. The Company is unable at this time to determine whether the outcome of the litigation would have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flow. The Company has not established any reserve for any potential liability relating to this lawsuit.

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw2

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Narrative (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Stock Options

Stock Options

2012 Stock Option Plan

2012 Stock Option Plan

2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Current quarter [Member]

Year to date [Member]

Cash Exercise [Member]

Cash Exercise [Member]

Cashless Exercise [Member]

Cashless Exercise [Member]

Stock Options

Stock options and restricted stock units [Member]

ESPP

ESPP

2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

ESPP

ESPP

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of equity incentive plans

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Vesting period of options granted

'

'

'

'

'4 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percent vested at the end of one year

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options granted exercisable period

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares held by employees subject to repurchase

'

'

20,381

48,260

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Shares held by employees subject to repurchase, aggregate price

'

'

$100,000

$200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Exercise of Stock Warrants

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

34,142

0

0

75,462

Gross Stock Warrants used in cashless exercise

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

104,037

Limit on payroll deductions used to purchase shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

ESPP offering period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'6 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

ESPP first offering period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'11 months

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee discount to purchase shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

85.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

ESPP Shares Purchased for Award

'

'

'

'

'

'

69,065

184,849

'

'

'

'

'

'

ESPP Per Share Weighted Average Price of Shares Purchased

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$14.14

$13.92

'

'

'

'

ESPP Number of Shares Available for Grant

'

'

'

'

'

415,465

224,110

224,110

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted average remaining contractual term, Outstanding

'

'

'6 years 9 months 11 days

'6 years 9 months 22 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Stock Options

'

'

8,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition

'

'

'2 years 7 months 10 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants

$226,000

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$226,000

'

'

'

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw3

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Summary of stock option activity (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'
Number of Options, Outstanding, Beginning balance	3,187,559
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Beginning balance	$7.51
Aggregate intrinsic value, Outstanding, Beginning balance	$56,362
Number of Options, Options granted	606,960
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options granted	$16.79
Number of Options, Options exercised	-364,590
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options exercised	$3.63
Number of Options, Options canceled	-109,702
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options canceled	$13.17
Number of Options, Options expired	-8,453
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Options expired	$21.75
Number of Options, Outstanding, Ending Balance	3,311,774
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Ending balance	$9.41
Aggregate intrinsic value, Outstanding, Ending balance	$33,974

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw4

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Summary of restricted stock activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
	Stock Options	Stock Options	Restricted Stock Awards	Restricted Stock Awards	Restricted Stock Units	Restricted Stock Units	Director	Minimum	Maximum
							Restricted Stock Awards	ESPP	ESPP
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Expected Term (in years)	'5 years 4 months 17 days	'5 years 5 months 23 days	'	'	'	'	'	'3 months	'6 months
Interest Rate	1.80%	0.72%	'	'	'	'	'	0.81%	1.80%
Stock Comp, Nonvested Awards, Comp Cost unRecognized, Awards Other than Options	'	'	$0.10	'	$11.20	'	'	'	'
Stock Comp-other than options - Period for Recognition- Comp cost not yet rocognized	'	'	'4 months 10 days	'	'2 years 2 months 23 days	'	'	'	'
Percent of stock that vests on first anniversary date of the grant	'	'	33.33%	'	'	'	50.00%	'	'
Percent of stock that vests on second anniversary date of the grant	'	'	33.33%	'	'	'	50.00%	'	'
Percent of stock that vests on third anniversary date of grant	'	'	33.33%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Granted	'	'	0	'	482,862	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Granted	'	'	$0	'	$16.82	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Vested	'	'	-12,076	'	-93,795	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Vested	'	'	$12.42	'	$24.97	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Forfeited	'	'	0	'	-48,576	'	'	'	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Forfeited	'	'	$0	'	$23.91	'	'	'	'
Number of shares, Outstanding, Ending balance	'	'	12,076	24,152	714,399	373,908	'	'	'
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding, Ending balance	'	'	$12.42	$12.42	$19.70	$25.34	'	'	'

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw5

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Summary of assumptions used (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Stock Options	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expected Term (in years)	'5 years 4 months 17 days	'5 years 5 months 23 days	'	'
Volatility	46.70%	48.70%	'	'
Interest Rate	1.80%	0.72%	'	'
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Minimum | Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expected Term (in years)	'	'	'5 years 4 months 17 days	'5 years 5 months 23 days
Volatility	'	'	46.70%	47.90%
Interest Rate	'	'	0.81%	0.72%
Maximum | Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expected Term (in years)	'	'	'5 years 5 months 5 days	'5 years 7 months 6 days
Volatility	'	'	48.10%	48.70%
Interest Rate	'	'	1.80%	1.03%

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw6

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Share based compensaton allocated to expense captions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	$2,393	$1,393	$6,113	$2,671
Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	272	149	707	254
Research and Development Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	194	149	632	285
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	816	452	2,121	722
General and Administrative Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	$1,111	$643	$2,653	$1,410

Stockbased_Compensation_and_Aw7

Stock-based Compensation and Awards Summary of ESPP assumptiuons used (Details) (2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, ESPP)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ESPP	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expected Term (in years)	'3 months	'10 months 16 days	'	'10 months 16 days
Volatility	33.30%	50.80%	33.30%	50.80%
Interest Rate	0.05%	0.18%	'	0.18%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Segments_Summary_of_the_operat

Segments Summary of the operating segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
			Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	'	'	2	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'
Product	$15,666	$16,851	$43,966	$47,643
Service	10,401	9,117	29,810	26,322
Total revenue	26,067	25,968	73,776	73,965
Cost of revenue	'	'	'	'
Product	5,635	5,237	15,581	16,138
Service	4,155	3,743	12,409	11,134
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	9,790	8,980	27,990	27,272
Gross profit	'	'	'	'
Product	10,031	11,614	28,385	31,505
Service	6,246	5,374	17,401	15,188
Total gross profit	16,277	16,988	45,786	46,693
Calculation of pretax profit (loss) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	19,662	15,320	54,532	42,761
Interest (expense) income, net and other	163	110	115	-1,430
(Loss) income before income taxes	($3,222)	$1,778	($8,631)	$2,502

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	($120)	$41	($8)	$420
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	($3,102)	$1,737	($8,623)	$2,082
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	'	'	-0.87%	16.80%