Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless say they will open new research facilities targeted at bringing new machine-to-machine products onto their networks.

The labs will help the carriers compete with each other in the rapidly growing M2M space.

Sprint’s Collaboration Center will be located just outside Silicon Valley in Burlingame, Calif., and will open Oct. 25. The laboratory will allow customers to work with Sprint’s experts on the development of M2M devices.

Sprint’s Command Center M2M development software allows users to load and manage their M2M devices directly on the Sprint network. The software includes device management and testing, account management and tools to develop applications for M2M solutions. Users will also be able to integrate professional and managed services.

“Businesses are recognizing the compelling opportunities in M2M across nearly all industry sectors, and Sprint is uniquely prepared to serve as a vital partner in helping those companies actualize their M2M ideas,” said Danny Bowman, president of Sprint’s Integrated Solutions Group, in a statement.

AT&T is opening multiple centers with Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs and Ericsson in Palo Alto, Calif.; Plano, Texas; and Ra’anana, near Tel Aviv, Israel. Initial projects are already underway in temporary facilities and the carrier has tapped U-verse applications veteran Peter Hill to lead the initiative.

Verizon’s Machine to Machine Management Center will launch later this month and gives “enterprise customers tools to implement new business models, improve time-to-market, reduce operating costs, track key performance indicators and enhance aftermarket services.” The center is a product of Verizon’s nPhase joint venture with Qualcomm.

Sprint also said it was partnering with San Diego-based module provider Fusion Wireless on CDMA chip modules and would be providing connectivity for a wireless healthcare monitoring system developed by Reflection Solutions. Sprint is also working with managed services provider Wyless on M2M applications.