Segment Information (Operating Revenues by Service and Products) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	$ 8,843,000,000		$ 8,311,000,000		$ 17,577,000,000		$ 16,624,000,000
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,190,000,000		6,708,000,000		14,302,000,000		13,357,000,000
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	753,000,000		690,000,000		1,488,000,000		1,385,000,000
Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	296,000,000		324,000,000		586,000,000		657,000,000
Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	56,000,000		74,000,000		120,000,000		153,000,000
Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	401,000,000		440,000,000		808,000,000		905,000,000
Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	147,000,000		75,000,000		273,000,000		167,000,000
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	8,067,000,000		7,452,000,000		16,017,000,000		14,865,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	8,067,000,000		7,452,000,000		16,017,000,000		14,865,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,190,000,000		6,708,000,000		14,302,000,000		13,357,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	753,000,000		690,000,000		1,488,000,000		1,385,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0		0
Wireless [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0		0
Wireless [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0		0
Wireless [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	124,000,000		54,000,000		227,000,000		123,000,000
Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	774,000,000		857,000,000		1,555,000,000		1,755,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	995,000,000		1,090,000,000		1,993,000,000		2,210,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0		0
Wireline [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0		0		0
Wireline [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	426,000,000		480,000,000		843,000,000		966,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	99,000,000		117,000,000		207,000,000		233,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	449,000,000		475,000,000		902,000,000		972,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	21,000,000		18,000,000		41,000,000		39,000,000
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	2,000,000		2,000,000		5,000,000		4,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	(219,000,000)	[1]	(231,000,000)	[1]	(433,000,000)	[1]	(451,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(130,000,000)	[1]	(156,000,000)	[1]	(257,000,000)	[1]	(309,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(43,000,000)	[1]	(43,000,000)	[1]	(87,000,000)	[1]	(80,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(48,000,000)	[1]	(35,000,000)	[1]	(94,000,000)	[1]	(67,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$ 2,000,000	[1]	$ 3,000,000	[1]	$ 5,000,000	[1]	$ 5,000,000	[1]

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