Segment Information (Operating Revenues by Service and Products) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	$ 8,793,000,000		$ 8,734,000,000
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,143,000,000		7,112,000,000
Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	813,000,000		735,000,000
Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	253,000,000		290,000,000
Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	48,000,000		64,000,000
Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	387,000,000		407,000,000
Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	149,000,000		126,000,000
Wireless [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	8,089,000,000		7,950,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	8,089,000,000		7,950,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	7,143,000,000		7,112,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	813,000,000		735,000,000
Wireless [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0
Wireless [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0
Wireless [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0
Wireless [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	133,000,000		103,000,000
Wireline [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	702,000,000		781,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	893,000,000		998,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0
Wireline [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0		0
Wireline [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	352,000,000		417,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	94,000,000		108,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	434,000,000		453,000,000
Wireline [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	13,000,000		20,000,000
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	2,000,000		3,000,000
Segment Reporting Information, Total Net Operating Revenues	(189,000,000)	[1]	(214,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	0	[1]	0	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Voice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(99,000,000)	[1]	(127,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Data [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(46,000,000)	[1]	(44,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	(47,000,000)	[1]	(46,000,000)	[1]
Corporate, Other And Eliminations [Member] | Other Products or Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment	$ 3,000,000	[1]	$ 3,000,000	[1]

[1] Revenues eliminated in consolidation consist primarily of wireline services provided to the Wireless segment for resale to or use by wireless subscribers.