Investments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	May 31, 2012 Clearwire [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Clearwire [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Clearwire [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Clearwire [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Clearwire [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Clearwire Class B Voting [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Clearwire Class B Non-voting [Member]	Jan. 02, 2014 Additional Notes Receivable [Member] Clearwire [Member]	Jan. 02, 2012 Additional Notes Receivable [Member] Clearwire [Member] terms	Nov. 28, 2008 Notes Receivable [Member] Clearwire [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Sprint share in percentage of non-controlling interest in Clearwire												48.30%	48.30%
Carrying value of non-controlling interest								$ 973,000,000		$ 973,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Shares Repurchased	78	78		78
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 2	$ 2		$ 2		$ 2						$ 0.0001
Equity Method Investment, Stock Repurchased, Value	8,000
Potential aggregate offering price for at-the-market equity offering							300,000,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties	312,000,000	312,000,000		312,000,000		178,000,000									150,000,000
Interest Rate of Note Receivable, Related Parties															11.50%	12.00%
Number of installments															2
Future payment on notes receivable, related party														75,000,000
Equity in losses from Clearwire								429,000,000	594,000,000	719,000,000	1,000,000,000
Asset Impairment Charges				84,000,000	0				202,000,000	40,000,000	294,000,000
Price per share of Clearwire's stock								$ 1.12		$ 1.12
Equity method investment book value per share								$ 1.38		$ 1.38
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets, Related Parties	85,000,000	85,000,000		85,000,000		5,000,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Current	154,000,000	154,000,000		154,000,000		77,000,000
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction		104,000,000	106,000,000	209,000,000	152,000,000
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment		$ 204,000,000