Equity Attributable To Comverse Technology, Inc. And Noncontrolling Interest (Components Of Equity Attributable To Comverse Technology, Inc. And Its Noncontrolling Interest) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Balance, January 31			$ 485,887	$ 509,722
Net loss	(31,889)	(18,174)	(89,007)	(106,625)
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax			(2,980)	(11,940)
Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax			133	(19)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			2,523	(6,151)
Total comprehensive loss			(89,331)	(124,735)
Stock-based compensation expense			5,016	5,756
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			20,578	24,209
Repurchase of common stock			(1,425)	(480)
Balance, July 31	420,725	414,472	420,725	414,472
Comverse Technology, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]
Balance, January 31			413,008	422,486
Net loss			(98,892)	(106,048)
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax			(2,980)	(11,916)
Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax			(175)	(38)
Foreign currency translation adjustment			173	(3,043)
Total comprehensive loss			(101,874)	(121,045)
Stock-based compensation expense			5,016	5,756
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			14,366	36,069
Repurchase of common stock			(1,425)	(480)
Balance, July 31	329,091	342,786	329,091	342,786
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance, January 31			72,879	87,236
Net loss			9,885	(577)
Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax				(24)
Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax			308	19
Foreign currency translation adjustment			2,350	(3,108)
Total comprehensive loss			12,543	(3,690)
Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other			6,212	(11,860)
Balance, July 31	$ 91,634	$ 71,686	$ 91,634	$ 71,686

Equity Attributable To Comverse Technology, Inc. And Noncontrolling Interest (Components Of Equity Attributable To Comverse Technology, Inc. And Its Noncontrolling Interest) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Jul. 31, 2010

Jul. 31, 2011

Jul. 31, 2010

Balance, January 31

$ 485,887

$ 509,722

Net loss

(31,889)

(18,174)

(89,007)

(106,625)

Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

(2,980)

(11,940)

Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

133

(19)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

2,523

(6,151)

Total comprehensive loss

(89,331)

(124,735)

Stock-based compensation expense

5,016

5,756

Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other

20,578

24,209

Repurchase of common stock

(1,425)

(480)

Balance, July 31

420,725

414,472

420,725

414,472

Comverse Technology, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]

Balance, January 31

413,008

422,486

Net loss

(98,892)

(106,048)

Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

(2,980)

(11,916)

Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

(175)

(38)

Foreign currency translation adjustment

173

(3,043)

Total comprehensive loss

(101,874)

(121,045)

Stock-based compensation expense

5,016

5,756

Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other

14,366

36,069

Repurchase of common stock

(1,425)

(480)

Balance, July 31

329,091

342,786

329,091

342,786

Noncontrolling Interest [Member]

Balance, January 31

72,879

87,236

Net loss

9,885

(577)

Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

(24)

Unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedge positions, net of reclassification adjustments and tax

308

Foreign currency translation adjustment

2,350

(3,108)

Total comprehensive loss

12,543

(3,690)

Impact from equity transactions of subsidiaries and other

6,212

(11,860)

Balance, July 31

$ 91,634

$ 71,686

$ 91,634

$ 71,686

- Definition

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of tax effect. The after tax effect change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on, net of tax. Reclassification adjustments include: (1) the unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, at the date of the transfer for a debt security from the held-to-maturity category transferred into the available-for-sale category. Also includes the unrealized gain (loss) at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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+ Details

- Definition

Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

+ References+ Details