Business Segment Information (Schedule of Total Revenue, Total Costs and Expenses, Segment Performance) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012		Apr. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 343,667		$ 349,497
Intercompany revenue	0		0
Total revenue	343,667		349,497
Total costs and expenses	361,095		382,921
Income (loss) from operations	(17,428)		(33,424)
Stock-based compensation expense	8,146		11,077
Restructuring and integration charges	680		11,087
Interest expense	(7,920)		(9,128)
Depreciation and amortization	22,358		21,675
Other non-cash items	628	[1]	331	[1]
Comverse BSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	57,680		75,201
Intercompany revenue	0		0
Total revenue	57,680		75,201
Total costs and expenses	53,283		70,142
Income (loss) from operations	4,397		5,059
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	4,074		4,498
Compliance-related professional fees	0		0
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	630		2,062
Strategic evaluation related costs	0		0
Impairment of property and equipment	0		0
Litigation settlements and related	0		0
Acquisition-related charges			0
Restructuring and integration charges	0		0
Other	0		0
Segment expense adjustments	4,704		6,560
Segment expenses	48,579		63,582
Segment performance	9,101		11,619
Interest expense	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	4,863		5,466
Other non-cash items	0	[1]	0	[1]
Comverse VAS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	65,922		79,475
Intercompany revenue	0		0
Total revenue	65,922		79,475
Total costs and expenses	50,082		58,689
Income (loss) from operations	15,840		20,786
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	0		0
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	0		0
Compliance-related professional fees	0		0
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	773		1,201
Strategic evaluation related costs	0		0
Impairment of property and equipment	0		0
Litigation settlements and related	0		0
Acquisition-related charges			0
Restructuring and integration charges	0		0
Other	0		0
Segment expense adjustments	773		1,201
Segment expenses	49,309		57,488
Segment performance	16,613		21,987
Interest expense	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	1,201		936
Other non-cash items	0	[1]	0	[1]
Verint [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	196,635		176,332
Intercompany revenue	0		0
Total revenue	196,635		176,332
Total costs and expenses	175,652		157,498
Income (loss) from operations	20,983		18,834
Segment revenue adjustment	3,604		235
Stock-based compensation expense	5,711		7,550
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	9,982		8,196
Compliance-related professional fees	0		991
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	0		0
Strategic evaluation related costs	911		0
Impairment of property and equipment	0		0
Litigation settlements and related	0		0
Acquisition-related charges			2,374
Restructuring and integration charges	0		0
Other	(1,759)		1,335
Segment expense adjustments	14,845		20,446
Segment expenses	160,807		137,052
Segment performance	39,432		39,515
Interest expense	(7,718)		(8,794)
Depreciation and amortization	14,096		12,954
Other non-cash items	606	[1]	203	[1]
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	23,430		18,489
Intercompany revenue	1,553		699
Total revenue	24,983		19,188
Total costs and expenses	83,527		97,327
Income (loss) from operations	(58,544)		(78,139)
Segment revenue adjustment	0		0
Stock-based compensation expense	2,435		3,527
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles	0		0
Compliance-related professional fees	8		18,406
Compliance-related compensation and other expenses	(285)		(1,230)
Strategic evaluation related costs	3,894		220
Impairment of property and equipment	22		128
Litigation settlements and related	(230)		559
Acquisition-related charges			0
Restructuring and integration charges	680		11,087
Other	(173)		(10)
Segment expense adjustments	6,351		32,687
Segment expenses	77,176		64,640
Segment performance	(52,193)		(45,452)
Interest expense	(202)		(334)
Depreciation and amortization	2,198		2,319
Other non-cash items	22	[1]	128	[1]
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0		0
Intercompany revenue	(1,553)		(699)
Total revenue	(1,553)		(699)
Total costs and expenses	(1,449)		(735)
Income (loss) from operations	(104)		36
Interest expense	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0
Other non-cash items	0	[1]	0	[1]
Segment Revenue [Member] | Comverse BSS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	57,680		75,201
Segment Revenue [Member] | Comverse VAS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	65,922		79,475
Segment Revenue [Member] | Verint [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	200,239		176,567
Segment Revenue [Member] | All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 24,983		$ 19,188

[1] Other non-cash items consist of write-downs of property and equipment.