Available-for-sale investments (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair values of available-for-sale debt security investments by contractual maturity
Maturing in one year or less	$ 8,501	$ 6,791
Maturing after one year through three years	4,998	5,855
Maturing after three years through five years	5,861	5,379
Maturing after five years through ten years	1,621	151
Mortgage- and asset- backed securities	3,902	1,785
Total available-for-sale investments	24,935	20,003
Total debt security investments [Member]
Fair values of available-for-sale debt security investments by contractual maturity
Total available-for-sale investments	$ 24,883	$ 19,961

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This item represents the fair value of debt securities which are expected to mature after one year through three years of the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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This item represents the fair value of debt securities which are expected to mature after three years through five years of the balance sheet date and which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the sixth fiscal year through the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

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Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

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Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value that do not have a single maturity date and which the entity has decided to disclose separately rather than allocating the fair value over several maturity groupings.

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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