Restructuring charges/other (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended						15 Months Ended	24 Months Ended	26 Months Ended	36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2014 Jobs	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 20,000,000	[1]	$ 126,000,000	[1]	$ 400,000,000	[1]
Payments for severance costs	124,000,000		292,000,000		46,000,000
Goodwill impairment loss	0		0		90,000,000
Gains on sales of assets	75,000,000		0		0
Gain on technology transfer	0		315,000,000		0
Gain on transfer of Japan substitutional pension	0		0		144,000,000
Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Gains on sales of assets	17,000,000
Semiconductor manufacturing facility in Nice, France
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Gains on sales of assets	30,000,000
Real estate in Santa Clara, California
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Gains on sales of assets	28,000,000
2013 Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Expected number of positions eliminated							1,100
Restructuring charges	26,000,000		49,000,000		0		75,000,000
Prior Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	(6,000,000)		77,000,000		400,000,000
Prior Actions | Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								200,000,000
Restructuring and related activities, Number of facilities closing					2
Former Reporting Segment Wireless | Prior Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges									383,000,000
Goodwill impairment loss									90,000,000
Employee Severance And Benefits Charges Reserves Member | 2013 Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	16,000,000	[1]	49,000,000	[1]	0	[1]
Payments for severance costs	43,000,000		0		0		43,000,000
Employee Severance And Benefits Charges Reserves Member | Prior Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	(6,000,000)	[1]	36,000,000	[1]	251,000,000	[1]
Payments for severance costs	73,000,000		266,000,000		23,000,000
Employee Severance And Benefits Charges Reserves Member | Prior Actions | Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Payments for severance costs										103,000,000
Employee Severance And Benefits Charges Reserves Member | Former Reporting Segment Wireless | Prior Actions
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Payments for severance costs									$ 247,000,000

[1] Includes changes in estimates.