Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 153,943	$ 161,260	$ 293,528	$ 298,330
Service revenue	229,709	215,754	424,509	418,780
Total revenue	383,652	377,014	718,037	717,110
Costs and expenses:
Product costs	66,126	66,720	126,635	119,649
Service costs	113,032	115,468	216,274	226,326
Research and development, net	49,987	49,779	97,462	101,893
Selling, general and administrative	128,231	133,900	268,558	281,346
Other operating expenses:
Restructuring charges	427	1,963	1,107	13,050
Total costs and expenses	357,803	367,830	710,036	742,264
Income (loss) from operations	25,849	9,184	8,001	(25,154)
Interest income	350	1,524	705	2,607
Interest expense	(7,878)	(8,005)	(15,798)	(17,133)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	(8,136)
Other (expense) income, net	(2,931)	12,609	(3,439)	11,980
Income (loss) income before income tax provision	15,390	15,312	(10,531)	(35,836)
Income tax provision	(9,183)	(49,638)	(29,348)	(56,902)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	6,207	(34,326)	(39,879)	(92,738)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	2,477	2,437	2,959	3,731
Net income (loss)	8,684	(31,889)	(36,920)	(89,007)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8,958)	(7,808)	(16,564)	(9,885)
Net loss attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.	(274)	(39,697)	(53,484)	(98,892)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted	219,108,299	206,079,868	218,983,165	205,892,853
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.’s shareholders:
Continuing operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.49)
Discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Basic and diluted loss per share	$ 0.00	$ (0.19)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.48)
Net loss attributable to Comverse Technology, Inc.
Net loss from continuing operations	(1,895)	(41,201)	(55,433)	(101,216)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 1,621	$ 1,504	$ 1,949	$ 2,324