Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Glowpoint and our wholly-owned subsidiary, GP Communications, LLC, whose business function is to provide interstate telecommunications services for regulatory purposes. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from the estimates made. We continually evaluate estimates used in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements for reasonableness. Appropriate adjustments, if any, to the estimates used are made prospectively based upon such periodic evaluation. The significant areas of estimation include determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred tax valuation allowance, accrued sales taxes, the estimated life of customer relationships and the estimated lives and recoverability of property and equipment. See “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Audited 2011 Financial Statements for a discussion on the estimates and judgments necessary in the Company’s accounting for the allowance for doubtful accounts, financial instruments, concentration of credit risk, property and equipment, income taxes, stock-based compensation, and accrued sales taxes and regulatory fees.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenue billed in advance for monitoring and management services is deferred until the revenue has been earned, which is when the related services have been performed. Other service revenue, including amounts passed through based on surcharges from our telecom carriers, related to the network services and collaboration services are recognized as service is provided. As the non-refundable, upfront installation and activation fees charged to the subscribers do not meet the criteria as a separate unit of accounting, they are deferred and recognized over the 12 to 24 month period estimated life of the customer relationship. Revenue related to professional services is recognized at the time the services are performed. Revenues derived from other sources are recognized when services are provided or events occur.
Taxes Billed to Customers and Remitted to Taxing Authorities [Policy Text Block]	We recognize taxes billed to customers in revenues and taxes remitted to taxing authorities in our operating costs, network and infrastructure.
Long-Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets We evaluate impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations, primarily fixed assets, when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets might not be recoverable as required by ASC topic 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment.” For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are compared to the carrying amounts of those assets. If and when the carrying values of the assets exceed their fair values, then the related assets will be written down to fair value.
Capitalized Software Costs	Capitalized Software Costs The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal-use software. All software development costs have been appropriately accounted for as required by ASC Topic 350.40 “Intangible – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software.” Capitalized software costs are included in “Property and Equipment” on our consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over three to four years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed as incurred.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Glowpoint and our wholly-owned subsidiary, GP Communications, LLC, whose business function is to provide interstate telecommunications services for regulatory purposes. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from the estimates made. We continually evaluate estimates used in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements for reasonableness. Appropriate adjustments, if any, to the estimates used are made prospectively based upon such periodic evaluation. The significant areas of estimation include determining the allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred tax valuation allowance, accrued sales taxes, the estimated life of customer relationships and the estimated lives and recoverability of property and equipment.

See “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Audited 2011 Financial Statements for a discussion on the estimates and judgments necessary in the Company’s accounting for the allowance for doubtful accounts, financial instruments, concentration of credit risk, property and equipment, income taxes, stock-based compensation, and accrued sales taxes and regulatory fees.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue billed in advance for monitoring and management services is deferred until the revenue has been earned, which is when the related services have been performed. Other service revenue, including amounts passed through based on surcharges from our telecom carriers, related to the network services and collaboration services are recognized as service is provided. As the non-refundable, upfront installation and activation fees charged to the subscribers do not meet the criteria as a separate unit of accounting, they are deferred and recognized over the 12 to 24 month period estimated life of the customer relationship. Revenue related to professional services is recognized at the time the services are performed. Revenues derived from other sources are recognized when services are provided or events occur.

Taxes Billed to Customers and Remitted to Taxing Authorities [Policy Text Block]

We recognize taxes billed to customers in revenues and taxes remitted to taxing authorities in our operating costs, network and infrastructure.

Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations, primarily fixed assets, when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets might not be recoverable as required by ASC topic 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment.” For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are compared to the carrying amounts of those assets. If and when the carrying values of the assets exceed their fair values, then the related assets will be written down to fair value.

Capitalized Software Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal-use software. All software development costs have been appropriately accounted for as required by ASC Topic 350.40 “Intangible – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software.” Capitalized software costs are included in “Property and Equipment” on our consolidated balance sheets and are amortized over three to four years. Software costs that do not meet capitalization criteria are expensed as incurred.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for recognizing and measuring the impairment of long-lived assets. An entity also may disclose its accounting policy for long-lived assets to be sold. This policy excludes goodwill and intangible assets.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for costs incurred when both (1) the software is acquired, internally developed, or modified solely to meet the entity's internal needs, and (2) during the software's development or modification, no substantive plan exists or is being developed to market the software externally.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

+ References+ Details