Goodwill and purchased intangible assets Additional information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended |
|
Jan. 31, 2017 |
Oct. 31, 2016 |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year |
$ 54,004
|
|
| Goodwill |
1,111,744
|
$ 1,110,493
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two |
60,664
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three |
54,853
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four |
45,478
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five |
33,095
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five |
34,869
|
|
| Net Carrying Amount |
282,963
|
|
| Other adjustments |
(596)
|
|
| Currency translation adjustments |
1,847
|
|
| Cost of Sales [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year |
4,809
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two |
5,216
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three |
4,836
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four |
3,173
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five |
2,435
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five |
943
|
|
| Net Carrying Amount |
21,412
|
|
| Operating Expense [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year |
49,195
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two |
55,448
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three |
50,017
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four |
42,305
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five |
30,660
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five |
33,926
|
|
| Net Carrying Amount |
261,551
|
|
| Developed Technology Rights [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| intangible assets reaching the end of useful life |
20,800
|
|
| Customer Relationships [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Net Carrying Amount |
254,087
|
272,451
|
| Other Intangible Assets [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Net Carrying Amount |
28,876
|
33,847
|
| Verifone Systems [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Goodwill |
497,373
|
497,126
|
| Other adjustments |
0
|
|
| Currency translation adjustments |
247
|
|
| Verifone Services [Member] |
|
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
|
|
| Goodwill |
614,371
|
$ 613,367
|
| Other adjustments |
(596)
|
|
| Currency translation adjustments |
$ 1,600
|
|