Property, Plant and Equipment (Narative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 towers	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of towers to be taken off air	9,600
Interest Costs Capitalized	$ 278,000,000	$ 413,000,000	$ 13,000,000
Weighted Average [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	8 years
iDEN and CDMA [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	$ 2,100,000,000