Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 Country	Mar. 31, 2014 Country	Dec. 31, 2014
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets	4,383		$ 4,380
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments, deferred tax assets, goodwill and intangible assets	953		$ 1,021
Geographic Concentration | Sales Revenue, Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries other than the US that accounted for 10% or more	0	0
Geographic Concentration | Long-lived Assets, Total
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries other than the US that accounted for 10% or more	0
EMC Information Infrastructure
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	3