Goodwill (Changes In Carrying Amount Of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012		Jan. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, at beginning of period	$ 1,213,686,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(156,455,000)
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	1,057,231,000
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	5,289,000
Goodwill, net, at end of period	1,062,520,000
Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, at beginning of period	83,955,000
Accumulated impairment losses	0
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	83,955,000
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	167,000
Goodwill, net, at end of period	84,122,000
Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, at beginning of period	65,966,000
Accumulated impairment losses	0
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	65,966,000
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	131,000
Goodwill, net, at end of period	66,097,000
Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, at beginning of period	894,155,000	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses	0	[1]
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	894,155,000	[1]
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	4,981,000	[1]
Goodwill, net, at end of period	899,136,000	[1]
All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, gross, at beginning of period	169,610,000	[2]
Accumulated impairment losses	(156,455,000)	[2]
Goodwill, net, at beginning of period	13,155,000	[2]
Effect of changes in foreign currencies and other	10,000	[2]
Goodwill, net, at end of period	13,165,000	[2]
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired, other	0
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired, other	0
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired, other	0
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Verint [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired, other	0	[1]
Reduction in goodwill due to identified adjustments	100,000		2,900,000
Other Acquisitions [Member] | All Other [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired, other	$ 0	[2]

[1] Goodwill balances of Verint as of January 31, 2012 have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect measurement period adjustments to the purchase price allocations for several business combinations completed during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. These adjustments were identified during the three months ended April 30, 2012, and resulted from new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the respective acquisition dates. These adjustments reduced goodwill by $2.9 million in the Verint segment (see Note 5, Business Combinations).

[2] The amount of goodwill in “All Other” is attributable to Starhome, Comverse MI and Netcentrex. The goodwill associated with Netcentrex was impaired during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009 and prior fiscal years.