Restructuring (Roll Forward Of Workforce Reduction And Restructuring Activities Under Various Plans) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012		Jan. 31, 2011		Jan. 31, 2010
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 5,814		$ 5,302		$ 10,957
Charges	20,880		30,050		15,846
Change in assumptions	(152)		(116)		(305)
Translation adjustments	(7)		0		0
Paid or utilized	(22,863)		(29,422)		(21,196)
Ending Balance	3,672		5,814		5,302
Comverse Third Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2,462	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Charges	12,611	[1]	11,600	[1]	0	[1]
Change in assumptions	(140)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Translation adjustments	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Paid or utilized	(12,447)	[1]	(9,138)	[1]	0	[1]
Ending Balance	2,486	[1]	2,462	[1]	0	[1]
Comverse Third Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	86	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Charges	211	[1]	191	[1]	0	[1]
Change in assumptions	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Translation adjustments	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Paid or utilized	(289)	[1]	(105)	[1]	0	[1]
Ending Balance	8	[1]	86	[1]	0	[1]
Netcentrex Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2,910		0		0
Charges	7,621		10,885		0
Change in assumptions	(12)		0		0
Translation adjustments	(7)		0		0
Paid or utilized	(9,334)		(7,975)		0
Ending Balance	1,178		2,910		0
Netcentrex Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0		0		0
Charges	52		0		0
Change in assumptions	0		0		0
Translation adjustments	0		0
Paid or utilized	(52)		0		0
Ending Balance	0		0		0
Comverse First Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	6		0		0
Charges	16		6,035		0
Change in assumptions	(3)		0		0
Translation adjustments	0		0
Paid or utilized	(19)		(6,029)		0
Ending Balance	0		6		0
Comverse First Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	94		0		0
Charges	13		1,007		0
Change in assumptions	0		0		0
Translation adjustments	0		0
Paid or utilized	(107)		(913)		0
Ending Balance	0		94		0
Pre Two Thousand And Ten Initiatives [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	227		699		1,746
Charges	274		18		13,019
Change in assumptions	1		(120)		(32)
Translation adjustments	0		0		0
Paid or utilized	(502)		(370)		(14,034)
Ending Balance	0		227		699
Pre Two Thousand And Ten Initiatives [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	29		4,487		8,670
Charges	82		314		2,558
Change in assumptions	2		4		(273)
Translation adjustments	0		0		0
Paid or utilized	(113)		(4,776)		(6,468)
Ending Balance	0		29		4,487
Other Initiatives [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0		116		541
Charges	0		0		269
Change in assumptions	0		0		0
Translation adjustments	0		0		0
Paid or utilized	0		(116)		(694)
Ending Balance	$ 0		$ 0		$ 116

[1] Includes charges attributable to the Phase II Business Transformation.