Business Segment Information (Schedule of Total Revenue, Total Costs and Expenses, Segment Performance) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2011		Jul. 31, 2012		Jul. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 383,652		$ 377,014		$ 718,037		$ 717,110
Total costs and expenses	357,803		367,830		710,036		742,264
Income (loss) from operations	25,849		9,184		8,001		(25,154)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,073		8,231		17,096		19,205
Restructuring charges	427		1,963		1,107		13,050
Interest expense	(7,878)		(8,005)		(15,798)		(17,133)
Depreciation and amortization	(22,142)		(21,495)		(44,346)		(43,021)
Other non-cash items	55	[1]	(48)	[1]	(573)	[1]	(379)	[1]
Comverse BSS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	69,052		85,471		126,732		160,672
Total costs and expenses	54,420		64,618		107,703		134,760
Income (loss) from operations	14,632		20,853		19,029		25,912
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0		0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0		0		0
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	3,998		4,498		8,072		8,996
Compliance-related professional fees	0		0		0		0
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	48		5		678		2,067
Strategic evaluation related costs	0		0		0		0
Impairment of property and equipment	1		0		1		0
Litigation settlements and related costs	0		0		0		0
Acquisition-related charges			0				0
Restructuring charges	0		0		0		0
Other	0		0		0		0
Segment expense adjustments	4,047		4,503		8,751		11,063
Segment expenses	50,373		60,115		98,952		123,697
Segment performance	18,679		25,356		27,780		36,975
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	(4,800)		(5,374)		(9,663)		(10,840)
Other non-cash items	(1)	[1]	0	[1]	(1)	[1]	0	[1]
Comverse VAS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	91,289		84,105		157,211		163,580
Total costs and expenses	60,109		54,240		110,191		112,929
Income (loss) from operations	31,180		29,865		47,020		50,651
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0		0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0		0		0
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	0		0		0		0
Compliance-related professional fees	0		0		0		0
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	143		35		916		1,236
Strategic evaluation related costs	0		0		0		0
Impairment of property and equipment	0		5		0		5
Litigation settlements and related costs	0		0		0		0
Acquisition-related charges			0				0
Restructuring charges	0		0		0		0
Other	0		0		0		0
Segment expense adjustments	143		40		916		1,241
Segment expenses	59,966		54,200		109,275		111,688
Segment performance	31,323		29,905		47,936		51,892
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	(1,243)		(1,097)		(2,444)		(2,033)
Other non-cash items	0	[1]	(5)	[1]	0	[1]	(5)	[1]
Verint
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	212,426		194,959		409,061		371,291
Total costs and expenses	186,163		173,549		361,815		331,047
Income (loss) from operations	26,263		21,410		47,246		40,244
Segment revenue adjustment	2,642		727		6,246		962
Stock-based compensation expense	5,922		6,641		11,633		14,191
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	9,679		8,100		19,661		16,296
Compliance-related professional fees	0		17		0		1,008
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	0		0		0		0
Strategic evaluation related costs	2,428		0		3,339		0
Impairment of property and equipment	0		0		0		0
Litigation settlements and related costs	0		0		0		0
Acquisition-related charges			2,820				5,194
Restructuring charges	0		0		0		0
Other	(4,001)	[2]	671	[2]	(5,760)	[2]	2,006	[2]
Segment expense adjustments	14,028		18,249		28,873		38,695
Segment expenses	172,135		155,300		332,942		292,352
Segment performance	42,933		40,386		82,365		79,901
Interest expense	(7,867)		(7,857)		(15,585)		(16,651)
Depreciation and amortization	(14,169)		(12,585)		(28,265)		(25,539)
Other non-cash items	69	[1]	(19)	[1]	(537)	[1]	(222)	[1]
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	10,885		12,479		25,033		21,567
Total costs and expenses	57,098		75,445		130,318		163,572
Income (loss) from operations	(46,213)		(62,966)		(105,285)		(142,005)
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0		0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	3,151		1,590		5,463		5,014
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	0		0		0		0
Compliance-related professional fees	149		9,467		157		27,873
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	244		1,835		(41)		604
Strategic evaluation related costs	7,451		2,904		11,345		3,124
Impairment of property and equipment	13		24		35		152
Litigation settlements and related costs	(13)		3		(243)		562
Acquisition-related charges			0				0
Restructuring charges	427		1,963		1,107		13,050
Other	(35)		(19)		(208)		(29)
Segment expense adjustments	11,387		17,767		17,615		50,350
Segment expenses	45,711		57,678		112,703		113,222
Segment performance	(34,826)		(45,199)		(87,670)		(91,655)
Interest expense	(11)		(148)		(213)		(482)
Depreciation and amortization	(1,930)		(2,439)		(3,974)		(4,609)
Other non-cash items	(13)	[1]	(24)	[1]	(35)	[1]	(152)	[1]
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	0		0		0		0
Total costs and expenses	13		(22)		9		(44)
Income (loss) from operations	(13)		22		(9)		44
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Other non-cash items	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Segment Revenue | Comverse BSS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	69,052		85,471		126,732		160,672
Segment Revenue | Comverse VAS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	91,289		84,105		157,211		163,580
Segment Revenue | Verint
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	215,068		195,686		415,307		372,253
Segment Revenue | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 10,885		$ 12,479		$ 25,033		$ 21,567

[1] Other non-cash items consist of write-downs of property and equipment.

[2] Consists of changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities associated with business combinations.