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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 StqBdacIuwvS6ZbE3CP697Q5IzT65hj6iU1Rp+ElgsX1FmPWIWdvnBRDsAlZoaRF
 1ctF5fAE/ifjk5tEDW6OjA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001289446-05-000004.txt : 20050211
<SEC-HEADER>0001289446-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050211145356
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001289446-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLENAYRE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808918
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				980085742
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE
		STREET 2:		-
		CITY:			DULUTH
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30097
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7702831000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	N W GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NU WEST GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880221

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NU WEST GROUP LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19871126

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BICKELL CLIFF O
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001250079

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15761
		FILM NUMBER:		05597702

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SCIENTIFIC GAMES CORP
		STREET 2:		1500 BLUEGRASS LAKES PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALPHARETTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30004
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7706643700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		1500 BLUEGRASS LAKES PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALPHARETTA,
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30004
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808918</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLENAYRE TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GEMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250079</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BICKELL CLIFF O</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1500 BLUEGRASS LAKES PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALPHARETTA,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2981</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2981</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2981</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-10-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These restricted stock units are payable in common stock as follows: one-third of the units are payable each year from the original grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Optons granted are subject to a two year vesting schedule with one-third vesting upon grant and the remainder vesting equally on each anniversary date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arlen Anderson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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