Intangible Assets and Goodwill 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 3,000,000
Goodwill, Gross					2,277,238,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	(18,315,000)	(45,650,000)	(18,315,000)	(45,650,000)	(130,150,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period			2,147,088,000
Other	(1,659,000)
Goodwill, ending period	2,127,114,000		2,127,114,000		2,147,088,000
North America Mailing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					352,897,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	(178,000)
Goodwill, ending period	352,719,000		352,719,000		352,897,000
International Mailing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					189,067,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	(8,105,000)
Goodwill, ending period	180,962,000		180,962,000		189,067,000
Small And Medium Business Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					541,964,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	(8,283,000)
Goodwill, ending period	533,681,000		533,681,000		541,964,000
Production Mail [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					127,589,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	2,603,000
Goodwill, ending period	130,192,000		130,192,000		127,589,000
Software [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					667,124,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	3,479,000
Goodwill, ending period	670,603,000		670,603,000		667,124,000
Management Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					487,223,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss					(84,500,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	542,000
Goodwill, ending period	403,265,000		403,265,000		402,723,000
Mail Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					259,105,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	(18,315,000)				(45,650,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	0
Goodwill, ending period	195,140,000		195,140,000		213,455,000
Marketing Services [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					194,233,000
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	0
Goodwill, ending period	194,233,000		194,233,000		194,233,000
Enterprise Business Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross					1,735,274,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	(18,315,000)				(130,150,000)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	6,624,000
Goodwill, ending period	$ 1,593,433,000		$ 1,593,433,000		$ 1,605,124,000