Segment Information (Operating Revenues by Service and Products) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Total net operating revenues	$ 33,679,000,000		$ 32,563,000,000		$ 32,260,000,000
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	30,301,000,000		28,597,000,000		27,786,000,000
Total net operating revenues	30,301,000,000		28,597,000,000		27,786,000,000
Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	3,370,000,000		3,959,000,000		4,471,000,000
Total net operating revenues	4,326,000,000		5,040,000,000		5,629,000,000
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	8,000,000		7,000,000		3,000,000
Total net operating revenues	(948,000,000)	[1]	(1,074,000,000)	[1]	(1,155,000,000)	[1]
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	27,129,000,000		25,677,000,000		25,286,000,000
Services [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	27,129,000,000		25,677,000,000		25,286,000,000
Services [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0
Services [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	2,911,000,000		2,703,000,000		1,954,000,000
Equipment [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	2,911,000,000		2,703,000,000		1,954,000,000
Equipment [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0
Equipment [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	1,272,000,000		1,517,000,000		1,776,000,000
Voice [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0
Voice [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	1,915,000,000		2,249,000,000		2,563,000,000
Voice [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(643,000,000)	[1]	(732,000,000)	[1]	(787,000,000)	[1]
Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	297,000,000		379,000,000		533,000,000
Data [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0
Data [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	460,000,000		519,000,000		662,000,000
Data [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(163,000,000)	[1]	(140,000,000)	[1]	(129,000,000)	[1]
Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	1,727,000,000		1,966,000,000		2,051,000,000
Internet [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0
Internet [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	1,878,000,000		2,175,000,000		2,293,000,000
Internet [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(151,000,000)	[1]	(209,000,000)	[1]	(242,000,000)	[1]
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	343,000,000		321,000,000		660,000,000
Other [Member] | Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	261,000,000		217,000,000		546,000,000
Other [Member] | Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	73,000,000		97,000,000		111,000,000
Other [Member] | Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$ 9,000,000	[1]	$ 7,000,000	[1]	$ 3,000,000	[1]

[1] Revenues eliminated in consolidation consist primarily of wireline services provided to the Wireless segment for resale to or use by wireless customers.