Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information Additional Information Abstract
Interest, net	$ (49,097)	$ (51,106)	$ (148,219)	$ (150,269)
Corporate expenses	(50,046)	(51,404)	(135,426)	(137,634)
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	(32,956)	(33,805)	(63,974)	(103,039)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	99,845	142,944	393,195	406,719
Total EBIT	277,594	279,259	786,464	797,661
Revenues	1,299,724	1,345,742	3,937,267	3,991,212
Small And Medium Business Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	653,460	682,057	2,002,843	2,064,903
EBIT	202,385	208,338	607,760	611,706
North America Mailing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	475,663	515,949	1,478,355	1,571,193
EBIT	177,280	189,670	532,727	555,475
International Mailing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	177,797	166,108	524,488	493,710
EBIT	25,105	18,668	75,033	56,231
Enterprise Business Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	646,264	663,685	1,934,424	1,926,309
EBIT	75,209	70,921	178,704	185,955
Production Mail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	117,220	135,886	382,595	383,231
EBIT	(3,426)	15,770	12,971	36,687
Software [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	109,153	95,222	304,921	260,424
EBIT	16,564	7,571	31,618	17,082
Management Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	235,428	245,113	717,513	748,538
EBIT	18,248	23,508	59,256	65,781
Mail Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	143,055	147,941	421,611	425,103
EBIT	35,107	15,501	55,191	45,975
Marketing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information Revenue	41,408	39,523	107,784	109,013
EBIT	$ 8,716	$ 8,571	$ 19,668	$ 20,430

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Amount of income or loss for the reportable segment from continuing operations before Interest, corporate expenses, restructuring charges and asset impairments, and income taxes.

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Total business segment earnings before interest and taxes which excludes general corporate expenses, retructuring charges and asset impairments.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

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The aggregate amount provided for estimated restructuring charges, remediation costs, and asset impairment loss during an accounting period. Generally, these items are either unusual or infrequent, but not both (in which case they would be extraordinary items).

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Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

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Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

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