Goodwill (Changes In Carrying Amount Of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012		Jan. 31, 2011		Jan. 31, 2010		Jan. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross at beginning of period	$ 1,123,679		$ 1,109,852		$ 1,093,660		$ 1,216,615
Accumulated impairment losses at beginning of period	(156,455)		(156,455)		(156,455)		(156,455)
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	967,224		953,397		937,205
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	(5,501)		1,051		16,103
Goodwill, Excluding Impairment Losses, Net			967,224
Goodwill, net, at end of period	1,060,160		967,224		953,397
Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross at beginning of period	84,050		84,047		83,522		83,955
Accumulated impairment losses at beginning of period	0		0		0		0
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	84,050		84,047		83,522
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	(95)		3		525
Goodwill, Excluding Impairment Losses, Net			84,050
Goodwill, net, at end of period	83,955		84,050		84,047
Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross at beginning of period	66,040		66,037		65,625		65,966
Accumulated impairment losses at beginning of period	0		0		0		0
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	66,040		66,037		65,625
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	(74)		3		412
Goodwill, Excluding Impairment Losses, Net			66,040
Goodwill, net, at end of period	65,966		66,040		66,037
Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross at beginning of period	803,971		790,151		774,931		897,084
Accumulated impairment losses at beginning of period	0		0		0		0
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	803,971		790,151		774,931
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	(5,324)		1,044		15,131
Goodwill, Excluding Impairment Losses, Net			803,971
Goodwill, net, at end of period	897,084		803,971		790,151
All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross at beginning of period	169,618	[1]	169,617	[1]	169,582	[1]	169,610	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses at beginning of period	(156,455)	[1]	(156,455)	[1]	(156,455)	[1]	(156,455)	[1]
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	13,163	[1]	13,162	[1]	13,127	[1]
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	(8)	[1]	1	[1]	35	[1]
Goodwill, Excluding Impairment Losses, Net			13,163	[1]
Goodwill, net, at end of period	13,155	[1]	13,163	[1]	13,162	[1]
ViewLinks [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition					89	[2]
ViewLinks [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition					0	[2]
ViewLinks [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition					0	[2]
ViewLinks [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition					89	[2]
ViewLinks [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition					0	[1],[2]
Iontas Limited [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition			12,776
Iontas Limited [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition			0	[2]
Iontas Limited [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition			0	[2]
Iontas Limited [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition			12,776	[2]
Iontas Limited [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition			0	[1],[2]
Vovici Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	41,736	[2]
Vovici Acquisition [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Vovici Acquisition [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Vovici Acquisition [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	41,736	[2]
Vovici Acquisition [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[1],[2]
Global Management Technologies Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	23,141	[2]
Global Management Technologies Acquisition [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Global Management Technologies Acquisition [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Global Management Technologies Acquisition [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	23,141	[2]
Global Management Technologies Acquisition [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[1],[2]
Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	33,560	[2]
Other [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Other [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	0	[2]
Other [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	33,560	[2]
Other [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business acquisition	$ 0	[1],[2]

[1] The amount of goodwill in “All Other” is attributable to Starhome, Comverse MI and Netcentrex. The goodwill associated with Netcentrex was fully impaired during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009 and prior fiscal years.

[2] During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2012 , 2011 and 2010, goodwill related to certain acquisitions was adjusted due to earn-out payments or recoveries, tax adjustments and a lease abandonment settlement.