Segment Information (Operating Revenues by Service and Products) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	$ 8,763,000,000		$ 8,333,000,000		$ 26,340,000,000		$ 24,957,000,000
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,171,000,000		6,836,000,000		21,473,000,000		20,193,000,000
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	750,000,000		616,000,000		2,238,000,000		2,001,000,000
Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	268,000,000		308,000,000		854,000,000		965,000,000
Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	50,000,000		83,000,000		170,000,000		236,000,000
Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	381,000,000		408,000,000		1,189,000,000		1,313,000,000
Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	143,000,000		82,000,000		416,000,000		249,000,000
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	8,042,000,000		7,516,000,000		24,059,000,000		22,381,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	8,042,000,000		7,516,000,000		24,059,000,000		22,381,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,171,000,000		6,836,000,000		21,473,000,000		20,193,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	750,000,000		616,000,000		2,238,000,000		2,001,000,000
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	121,000,000		64,000,000		348,000,000		187,000,000
Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	717,000,000		816,000,000		2,272,000,000		2,571,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	939,000,000		1,062,000,000		2,932,000,000		3,272,000,000
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	399,000,000		474,000,000		1,242,000,000		1,440,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	95,000,000		124,000,000		302,000,000		357,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	428,000,000		447,000,000		1,330,000,000		1,419,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	17,000,000		17,000,000		58,000,000		56,000,000
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	4,000,000		1,000,000		9,000,000		5,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	(218,000,000)	[1]	(245,000,000)	[1]	(651,000,000)	[1]	(696,000,000)	[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	(131,000,000)	[1]	(166,000,000)	[1]	(388,000,000)	[1]	(475,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(45,000,000)	[1]	(41,000,000)	[1]	(132,000,000)	[1]	(121,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(47,000,000)	[1]	(39,000,000)	[1]	(141,000,000)	[1]	(106,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$ 5,000,000	[1]	$ 1,000,000	[1]	$ 10,000,000	[1]	$ 6,000,000	[1]

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