Technique for alignment of a mobile device orientation sensor with the earth's coordinate system

In one embodiment, a technique for providing absolute orientation of a mobile device involves aligning the orientation sensor of the mobile device with the Earth's coordinate system. An initial orientation from the orientation sensor of the mobile device is accessed, a user is prompted to move the mobile device in a direction of the initial orientation, and using a position sensor, a set of position information that describes positions of the mobile device is captured while the mobile device is being moved in the direction. Based on the set of position information, a vector of movement is determined. Using the vector of movement, an orientation difference is calculated between the Earth's coordinate system and a coordinate system of the mobile device. Upon demand, an absolute orientation of the mobile device may be produced by accessing a live orientation from the orientation sensor and adding the orientation difference.