Discontinued Operations (Schedule Of Operations Included In Discontinued Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.	$ (3,707)	$ (774)	$ (1,000)	$ (1,224)	$ 0	$ (6,705)	$ (41,605)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax					0	(11,039)	(43,062)
Ulticom Inc [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue						28,377	42,877
Loss before income tax (provision) benefit						(8,921)	(8,083)
Income tax (provision) benefit						(5,045)	627
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax						(13,966)	(7,456)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations						4,103	0
Tax on discontinued operations						(1,176)	(35,606)
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax						2,927	(35,606)
Attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.						(6,705)	(41,605)
Attributable to noncontrolling interest						(4,334)	(1,457)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax						$ (11,039)	$ (43,062)