<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001259393-12-000004.txt : 20120412
<SEC-HEADER>0001259393-12-000004.hdr.sgml : 20120412
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120412145228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001259393-12-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120411
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120412
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120412

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMIT ERIC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259393

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-35314
		FILM NUMBER:		12756308

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001066194
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				770466366
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		345 E. MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6502307500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		345 E. MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
		CITY:			MOUNTAIN VIEW
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94043
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001066194</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>egan</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerName>SMIT ERIC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
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            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-11</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>350</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1350</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Plan (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>350</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-10-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>350</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <value>2012-10-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>1350</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1350</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This sale of common stock was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 sales plan adopted by the reporting person March 8, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting person understakes to provide upon request by the Securirites and Exchange Commission, the issuer or a securityholder of the issuer detailed information regarding the price and number of shares sold with the range indicated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents weighted average sale price.  Actual sale prices ranged from $5.47 to $5.60.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option became exerciable as to 1/48th of the shares each full month as of 09/01/2002.  The full vest date was 09/01/2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option became exerciable as to 100% of the shares on 12/31/2002.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option became exerciable as to 1/48th of the shares each full month as 1/1/2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Eric Smit</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
