Spectrum Hosting (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 mHZ gHZ	Jun. 30, 2011
Spectrum hosting [Line Items]
MHz licenses utilized in iDEN network			800
Gigahertz (GHz) licenses utilized in the code division multiple access network			1.9
Term of Arrangement			15 years
Cash received for Spectrum Hosting Agreement		$ 310
Payment received for incremental costs or obligations incurred by the Company for Spectrum Hosting	7	236	236	0
Amount of advanced payment refunded by the Company	2	65
Amount of payment potentially refunded, subject to unwind and termination provisions	9
Asset impairments			84	0
Net gain (loss) related to non-cancellable executory	170
Capitalized assets specific to the spectrum hosting [Member]
Spectrum hosting [Line Items]
Asset impairments			$ 66