Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Nov. 15, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	COMVERSE TECHNOLOGY INC/NY/
Entity Central Index Key	0000803014
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		209,216,315