Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	May 15, 2012
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
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		219,046,954