Google is embarking on a tour of five US cities in an effort to ramp up consumer interest in its NFC-based Google Wallet offering. Over the next three months the firm will be showing up at retail outlets in New York, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles to demo the service to potential users. “You’ll not only get to see Google Wallet in action, but you’ll also get $10 towards your purchase when you tap and pay using one of the Samsung Nexus S demo phones,” notes a company blog. Retail stores targeted include Duane Reade, Jamba Juice, Walgreens, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Foot Locker and Fat Witch Bakery in Chelsea Market.

The service was officially launched in September, but is only available to Sprint customers using the Samsung Nexus S 4G smartphone. Currently, it only works with Citi MasterCard credit cards and with merchants that have the PayPass technology installed. But Google is working with Visa, American Express and Discover to support their NFC credit cards, as well. Last month Google partnered with New Jersey Transit, the US public transport provider, so that travellers can purchase tickets on railways and buses using the search giant’s wallet service. Google Wallet faces strong competition in the US from Isis, the operator joint venture from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.