Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 689,046	$ 692,448	$ 635,057
Service revenue	905,351	930,979	898,880
Total revenue	1,594,397	1,623,427	1,533,937
Costs and expenses:
Product costs	279,942	263,429	251,800
Service costs	465,222	455,084	467,399
Research and development, net	213,712	253,089	267,211
Selling, general and administrative	582,878	689,306	721,731
Other operating expenses (income):
Litigation settlements	4,880	(17,500)	0
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	3,356
Restructuring charges	20,728	29,934	15,541
Total other operating (income) expenses:	25,608	12,434	18,897
Total costs and expenses	1,567,362	1,673,342	1,727,038
Income (loss) from operations	27,035	(49,915)	(193,101)
Interest income	4,334	4,105	7,059
Interest expense	(33,332)	(30,813)	(25,381)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(8,136)	0	0
Other (expense) income, net	22,031	6,392	(16,792)
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (provision)	11,932	(70,231)	(228,215)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(42,951)	(37,232)	7,025
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(31,019)	(107,463)	(221,190)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(11,039)	(43,062)
Net income (loss)	(31,019)	(118,502)	(264,252)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(27,707)	(13,820)	(7,783)
Net income (loss) attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.	(58,726)	(132,322)	(272,035)
Diluted	208,301,686	205,162,720	204,513,420
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$ (0.28)	$ (0.61)	$ (1.13)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ (0.28)	$ (0.64)	$ (1.33)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Continuing operations	$ (0.28)	$ (0.62)	$ (1.13)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ (0.20)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ (0.28)	$ (0.65)	$ (1.33)
Net income (loss) attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(58,726)	(125,617)	(230,430)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(6,705)	(41,605)
Net income (loss) attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.	$ (58,726)	$ (132,322)	$ (272,035)