More and more consumers are making “mobile payments” these days. Whether it’s a ringtone download or an app that lets you pay for your Starbucks coffee with a wave of your phone, these new ways to pay are becoming increasingly popular.

Although it may seem convenient and fun to pay by cell phone, it can raise questions about how the payments are processed, where your personal information is stored, and whether it’s really as safe as paying with traditional methods like credit or debit cards.

This Friday, October 29, the University of Washington is hosting an all-day conference with consumer advocates, professors, and industry experts who will weigh the pros and cons of mobile payments and discuss its impact on consumers here and around the world. Consumers Union’s own Gail Hillebrand, director of our Defend Your Dollars campaign, is a featured speaker at the event.

The conference will be streaming live on the University’s website for free. To sign up for the free webcast, click here.

To learn more about mobile payments, click here.