SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012
Revenues Included for Management Reporting Not Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations (Narrative) [Abstract]
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues	$ 3	[1]	$ 19	[1]
Software license updates and product support revenues	1	[1]	5	[1]
Hardware systems support revenues	5	[1]	4	[1]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	8,372		8,181
Margin	5,340		5,162
New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,653	[2]	1,589	[2]
Sales and distribution expenses	1,264		1,119
Margin	389	[3]	470	[3]
Software license updates and product support [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,432	[2]	4,145	[2]
Software license updates and product support expenses	257		265
Margin	4,175	[3]	3,880	[3]
Total software business [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,085	[2]	5,734	[2]
Expenses	1,521		1,384
Margin	4,564	[3]	4,350	[3]
Hardware systems products [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	669		779
Hardware systems products expenses	329		384
Sales and distribution expenses	217		218
Margin	123	[3]	177	[3]
Hardware systems support [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	597	[2]	578	[2]
Hardware systems support expenses	201		213
Margin	396	[3]	365	[3]
Hardware systems business [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,266	[2]	1,357	[2]
Expenses	747		815
Margin	519	[3]	542	[3]
Total services business [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,030	[2]	1,118	[2]
Services expenses	773		848
Margin	257	[3]	270	[3]
Total for operating segments [Member]
Segment reporting information [Line Items]
Revenues	8,381	[2]	8,209	[2]
Expenses	3,041		3,047
Margin	$ 5,340	[3]	$ 5,162	[3]

[1] New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $3 million and $19 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $1 million and $5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. See Note 8 for an explanation of these adjustments.

[2] Operating segment revenues generally differ from the external reporting classifications due to certain software license products that are classified as service revenues for management reporting purposes. New software licenses and cloud software subscriptions revenues for management reporting included revenues related to cloud software subscriptions contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $3 million and $19 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Software license updates and product support revenues for management reporting included revenues related to software support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities but were not recognized in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amounts of $1 million and $5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, we did not recognize hardware systems support revenues related to hardware systems support contracts that would have otherwise been recorded by the acquired businesses as independent entities in the amounts of $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. See Note 8 for an explanation of these adjustments and the table below for a reconciliation of our total operating segment revenues to our total revenues.

[3] The margins reported reflect only the direct controllable costs of each line of business and do not include allocations of product development, marketing and partner programs, and corporate, general and administrative and information technology expenses. Additionally, the margins do not reflect amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related and other expenses, restructuring expenses, stock-based compensation, interest expense or certain other expenses, net.