Segment Information (Operating Revenues by Service and Products) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	$ 8,877,000,000		$ 8,843,000,000		$ 17,670,000,000		$ 17,577,000,000
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,227,000,000		7,190,000,000		14,370,000,000		14,302,000,000
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	820,000,000		753,000,000		1,633,000,000		1,488,000,000
Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	255,000,000		296,000,000		508,000,000		586,000,000
Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	43,000,000		56,000,000		91,000,000		120,000,000
Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	384,000,000		401,000,000		771,000,000		808,000,000
Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	148,000,000		147,000,000		297,000,000		273,000,000
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	8,178,000,000		8,067,000,000		16,267,000,000		16,017,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	8,178,000,000		8,067,000,000		16,267,000,000		16,017,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,227,000,000		7,190,000,000		14,370,000,000		14,302,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	820,000,000		753,000,000		1,633,000,000		1,488,000,000
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	131,000,000		124,000,000		264,000,000		227,000,000
Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	695,000,000		774,000,000		1,397,000,000		1,555,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	910,000,000		995,000,000		1,803,000,000		1,993,000,000
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	377,000,000		426,000,000		729,000,000		843,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	87,000,000		99,000,000		181,000,000		207,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	432,000,000		449,000,000		866,000,000		902,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	14,000,000		21,000,000		27,000,000		41,000,000
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	4,000,000		2,000,000		6,000,000		5,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	(211,000,000)	[1]	(219,000,000)	[1]	(400,000,000)	[1]	(433,000,000)	[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	(122,000,000)	[1]	(130,000,000)	[1]	(221,000,000)	[1]	(257,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(44,000,000)	[1]	(43,000,000)	[1]	(90,000,000)	[1]	(87,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(48,000,000)	[1]	(48,000,000)	[1]	(95,000,000)	[1]	(94,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$ 3,000,000	[1]	$ 2,000,000	[1]	$ 6,000,000	[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.