Retirement-Related Benefits: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Retirement-related plans cost
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	$ 459,000,000	$ 370,000,000	$ 991,000,000	$ 802,000,000
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	89,000,000	88,000,000	174,000,000	173,000,000
Total	548,000,000	458,000,000	1,164,000,000	975,000,000
Year-to-year percent change, defined benefit and contribution pension plans cost	24.00%		23.60%
Year-to-year percent change, Nonpension postretirement plans cost	2.10%		0.20%
Year-to-year percent change, total	19.80%		19.40%
Proceeds from Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003	4,300,000		20,800,000
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | U.S. Plan(s)
Retirement-related plans cost
Interest cost	548,000,000	609,000,000	1,098,000,000	1,228,000,000
Expected return on plan assets	(1,011,000,000)	(1,007,000,000)	(2,022,000,000)	(2,022,000,000)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	3,000,000	3,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Recognized actuarial losses	330,000,000	198,000,000	665,000,000	409,000,000
Total net periodic pension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	(131,000,000)	(197,000,000)	(254,000,000)	(379,000,000)
Cost of defined contribution plans	212,000,000	216,000,000	477,000,000	481,000,000
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	81,000,000	19,000,000	223,000,000	101,000,000
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Non-U.S. Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	111,000,000	126,000,000	224,000,000	256,000,000
Interest cost	444,000,000	471,000,000	894,000,000	925,000,000
Expected return on plan assets	(573,000,000)	(643,000,000)	(1,153,000,000)	(1,263,000,000)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(38,000,000)	(40,000,000)	(77,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Recognized actuarial losses	256,000,000	242,000,000	515,000,000	487,000,000
Curtailments and settlements	0	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Multi-employer plan/other costs	23,000,000	40,000,000	46,000,000	74,000,000
Total net periodic pension (income)/cost of defined benefit plans	222,000,000	195,000,000	449,000,000	399,000,000
Cost of defined contribution plans	156,000,000	156,000,000	319,000,000	302,000,000
Defined benefit and contribution pension plan - cost	378,000,000	351,000,000	768,000,000	700,000,000
Expected current year contributions to non-U.S. defined benefit plans	700,000,000		700,000,000
Year-to-date contributions to non-U.S. defined benefit plans			347,000,000
Nonpension Postretirement Plans | U.S. Plan(s)
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	9,000,000	9,000,000	18,000,000	17,000,000
Interest cost	51,000,000	59,000,000	100,000,000	118,000,000
Recognized actuarial losses	10,000,000		16,000,000
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	70,000,000	68,000,000	134,000,000	134,000,000
Nonpension Postretirement Plans | Non-U.S. Plans
Retirement-related plans cost
Service cost	2,000,000	3,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000
Interest cost	16,000,000	17,000,000	33,000,000	34,000,000
Expected return on plan assets	(2,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Recognized actuarial losses	4,000,000	4,000,000	9,000,000	7,000,000
Nonpension postretirement plans - cost	$ 19,000,000	$ 20,000,000	$ 39,000,000	$ 39,000,000