Acquisitions/Divestitures: (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012 item
Acquisitions:
Businesses acquired, number (in entities)	10
Businesses acquired, aggregate cost	$ 2,613
Percentage of business acquired	100.00%
Acquired intangible asset, weighted average useful life	6 years 7 months 6 days
Current assets	277
Fixed assets/noncurrent assets	216
Goodwill	1,879
Expected percent of goodwill deductible for tax purposes	20.00%
Total assets acquired	3,018
Current liabilities	(142)
Noncurrent liabilities	(264)
Total liabilities assumed	(406)
Total purchase price	2,613
Completed technology
Acquisitions:
Intangible assets	406
Completed technology \| Minimum
Acquisitions:
Amortization life	5 years
Completed technology \| Maximum
Acquisitions:
Amortization life	7 years
Client relationships
Acquisitions:
Intangible assets	194
Amortization life	7 years
In-process R&D
Acquisitions:
Intangible assets	9
Patents/trademarks
Acquisitions:
Intangible assets	37
Patents/trademarks \| Minimum
Acquisitions:
Amortization life	1 year
Patents/trademarks \| Maximum
Acquisitions:
Amortization life	7 years
Systems and Technology
Acquisitions:
Businesses acquired, number (in entities)	2
Software
Acquisitions:
Businesses acquired, number (in entities)	8
Other Acquisitions \| Global Business Services
Acquisitions:
Goodwill	5
Other Acquisitions \| Systems and Technology
Acquisitions:
Goodwill	441
Other Acquisitions \| Software
Acquisitions:
Goodwill	1,413
Other Acquisitions \| Global Technology Services
Acquisitions:
Goodwill	21
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holding Corporation
Acquisitions:
Businesses acquired, aggregate cost	$ 161
Percentage of business acquired	19.90%
Ownership retention period	3 years

The number of acquisitions completed during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the period over which the entity will retain ownership interest in the acquired entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percent of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount assigned to a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 44

-Subparagraph a(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

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- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

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-Publisher FASB

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to assets acquired.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 37

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The total purchase price of the acquired entity. This includes cash paid to equity interest holders of the acquired entity, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to equity holders of the acquired entity, and transaction costs paid to third parties to consummate the acquisition.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to current assets.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to current liabilities of the acquired entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 98-1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 37

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 53

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 98-1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 37

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to noncurrent liabilities of the acquired entity.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to property, plant and equipment to be used in ongoing operations.

+ References

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- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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