| USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | Dec 31, 2012 | Dec 31, 2011 | Dec 31, 2010 | Dec 31, 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Current assets | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 19,048 | $ 4,194 | $ 2,065 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 28,347 | 27,261 | 26,102 | ||||||||||||||
Less Allowance for credit losses | 1,250 | 1,152 | 1,017 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | 27,097 | 26,109 | 25,085 | ||||||||||||||
Less Allowance for doubtful accounts | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Short-term investments | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Inventories | 2,441 | 2,247 | 2,057 | ||||||||||||||
Assets held for sale | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other | 8,336 | 7,973 | 7,607 | ||||||||||||||
Total current assets | 56,922 | 40,523 | 36,814 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | 337,991 | 331,406 | 320,108 | ||||||||||||||
Less Accumulated depreciation | 228,524 | 222,884 | 211,798 | ||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 109,467 | 108,522 | 108,310 | ||||||||||||||
Investments in unconsolidated businesses | 785 | 842 | 953 | ||||||||||||||
Wireless licenses | 157,039 | 156,613 | 155,667 | ||||||||||||||
Deposits for wireless licenses | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Goodwill | 22,841 | 22,841 | 22,843 | ||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets, net | 10,458 | 11,129 | 11,057 | ||||||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 23,498 | 24,472 | 24,726 | ||||||||||||||
Non-current assets held for sale | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other investments | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other assets | 23,248 | 19,769 | 19,885 | ||||||||||||||
Total assets | 404,258 | 384,711 | 380,255 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities and Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
Debt maturing within one year | 18,618 | 22,633 | 12,973 | ||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 24,981 | 23,374 | 23,453 | ||||||||||||||
Current operating lease liabilities | 4,542 | 4,415 | 4,266 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities related to assets held for sale | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other current liabilities | 14,229 | 14,349 | 12,531 | ||||||||||||||
Total current liabilities | 62,370 | 64,771 | 53,223 | ||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | 139,532 | 121,381 | 137,701 | ||||||||||||||
Employee benefit obligations | 11,099 | 11,997 | 13,189 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income taxes | 48,717 | 46,732 | 45,781 | ||||||||||||||
Non-current operating lease liabilities | 18,951 | 19,928 | 20,002 | ||||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities related to assets held for sale | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Other liabilities | 17,848 | 19,327 | 16,560 | ||||||||||||||
Total long-term liabilities | 236,147 | 219,365 | 233,233 | ||||||||||||||
Equity | |||||||||||||||||
Series preferred stock ($0.10 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; none issued) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Common stock ($0.10 par value; 6,250,000,000 shares authorized in each period; 4,291,433,646 shares issued in each period) | 429 | 429 | 429 | ||||||||||||||
Additional paid in capital | 13,372 | 13,466 | 13,631 | ||||||||||||||
Retained earnings | 94,744 | 89,110 | 82,915 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (1,727) | (923) | (1,380) | ||||||||||||||
Common stock in treasury, at cost (74,258,296 and 81,753,488 shares outstanding) | 3,255 | 3,583 | 3,821 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred compensation – employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and other | 897 | 738 | 656 | ||||||||||||||
Deferred compensation - employee stock ownership plans and other | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests | 1,281 | 1,338 | 1,369 | ||||||||||||||
Total equity | 105,741 | 100,575 | 93,799 | ||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ 404,258 | $ 384,711 | $ 380,255 |