Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Unrealized (Losses) Gains on Derivatives [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Cumulative Translation Adjustment [Member]	Comverse Technology, Inc.'s Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance, value at Jan. 31, 2008	$ 20,394	$ (833)	$ 1,922,312	$ (978,029)	$ 753		$ 20,474	$ 985,071	$ 138,639	$ 1,123,710
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2008	203,899,015
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss				(325,252)				(325,252)	(33,536)	(358,788)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax					9,549			9,549	38	9,587
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax						(3,028)		(3,028)	43	(2,985)
Foreign currency translation adjustment							(35,684)	(35,684)	(25,148)	(60,832)
Total comprehensive loss				(325,252)	9,549	(3,028)	(35,684)	(354,415)	(58,603)	(413,018)
Stock-based compensation expense			19,453					19,453		19,453
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, value	27		(27)
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, shares	269,740
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			3,644					3,644	32,044	35,688
Repurchase of common stock, value		(386)						(386)		(386)
Repurchase of common stock, shares	(57,659)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									(2,142)	(2,142)
Tax benefit of dispositions of stock options			(109)					(109)	(9)	(118)
Balance, value at Jan. 31, 2009	20,421	(1,219)	1,945,273	(1,303,281)	10,302	(3,028)	(15,210)	653,258	109,929	763,187
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2009	204,111,096
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss				(272,035)				(272,035)	7,783	(264,252)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax					15,361			15,361	(53)	15,308
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax						3,813		3,813	2	3,815
Foreign currency translation adjustment							8,019	8,019	6,551	14,570
Total comprehensive loss				(272,035)	15,361	3,813	8,019	(244,842)	14,283	(230,559)
Stock-based compensation expense			11,322					11,322		11,322
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, value	16		(16)
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, shares	158,829
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			3,107					3,107	29,498	32,605
Repurchase of common stock, value		(359)						(359)		(359)
Repurchase of common stock, shares	(47,901)
Forfeitures of restricted stock, value	(15)		15
Forfeitures of restricted stock, shares	(148,639)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									(66,474)	(66,474)
Balance, value at Jan. 31, 2010	20,422	(1,578)	1,959,701	(1,575,316)	25,663	785	(7,191)	422,486	87,236	509,722
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2010	204,073,385
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss				(132,322)				(132,322)	13,820	(118,502)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax					(7,792)			(7,792)	(26)	(7,818)
Unrealized gain (loss) for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax						(40)		(40)	(166)	(206)
Foreign currency translation adjustment							82	82	(2,124)	(2,042)
Sale of Verint Systems, Inc. shares of common stock, net of tax						3	2,600	2,603	(2,603)
Sale of Ulticom, Inc.							809	809	393	1,202
Total comprehensive loss				(132,322)	(7,792)	(37)	3,491	(136,660)	9,294	(127,366)
Stock-based compensation expense			10,402					10,402		10,402
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, value	72		(72)
Common stock issued for restricted and deferred stock awards, shares	709,513
Sale of Verint Systems, Inc. shares of common stock			52,203					52,203	7,117	59,320
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			66,483					66,483	886	67,369
Sale of Ulticom, Inc.									(7,808)	(7,808)
Repurchase of common stock, value		(1,906)						(1,906)		(1,906)
Repurchase of common stock, shares	(248,982)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									(23,846)	(23,846)
Balance, value at Jan. 31, 2011	$ 20,494	$ (3,484)	$ 2,088,717	$ (1,707,638)	$ 17,871	$ 748	$ (3,700)	$ 413,008	$ 72,879	$ 485,887
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2011	204,533,916