Restructuring (Roll Forward Of Workforce Reduction And Restructuring Activities Under Various Plans) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	$ 3,672	$ 5,814
Charges	981	11,201
Change in assumptions	(301)	(114)
Translation adjustments	14	702
Paid or utilized	(1,146)	(8,807)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	3,220	8,796
Comverse Third Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Severance Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	2,486	2,462
Charges	116	4,505
Change in assumptions	(136)	(114)
Translation adjustments	(2)	0
Paid or utilized	(771)	(5,018)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	1,693	1,835
Comverse Third Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	8	86
Charges	0	0
Change in assumptions	0	0
Translation adjustments	0	0
Paid or utilized	0	(51)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	8	35
Netcentrex Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Severance Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	1,178	2,910
Charges	11	6,591
Change in assumptions	(165)	0
Translation adjustments	10	702
Paid or utilized	(315)	(3,546)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	719	6,657
Netcentrex Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0	0
Charges	854	0
Change in assumptions	0	0
Translation adjustments	6	0
Paid or utilized	(60)	0
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	800	0
Comverse First Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Severance Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance		6
Charges		0
Change in assumptions		(3)
Translation adjustments		0
Paid or utilized		0
Restructuring reserve, ending balance		3
Comverse First Quarter Two Thousand And Ten Initiative [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance		94
Charges		0
Change in assumptions		0
Translation adjustments		0
Paid or utilized		(72)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance		22
Pre Two Thousand And Ten Initiatives [Member] | Severance Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance		227
Charges		48
Change in assumptions		1
Translation adjustments		0
Paid or utilized		(48)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance		228
Pre Two Thousand And Ten Initiatives [Member] | Facilities Related [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance		29
Charges		57
Change in assumptions		2
Translation adjustments		0
Paid or utilized		(72)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance		$ 16