Apple has asked apparently asked its supply and manufacturing partners to prepare for a production rate of 4 million iPhones a month by September, a 25% increase, says analysts who have been monitoring the production plans in Asia.

It has asked its manufacturing partner to plan on starting full-scale production of a CDMA version of the iPhone to be available for Verizon Wireless customers possibly as soon as early November, indicating once again that Apple intends to deliver on a long-awaited Verizon iPhone.

With Verizon already announcing plans to embrace Apple’s competitor Google and Android OS-based smartphones, the move may be an attempt by Apple to prevent the two companies from forging closer ties.

Earlier this month Verizon’s chief executive, Lowell McAdam, said that the two were even partnering to develop and carry a rival to Apple’s iPad.

“It’s really a flop for Google,” said a New York-based analyst. “They paid a price to roll out their own branded phone — it’s a price of trust and relationship with some of the other players in the space.”

It’s a blow to Google because it means the loss of offering the handset to more than 90 million Verizon Wireless customers. Some think the deal may have floundered thanks to fears by Verizon that Google was more of a competitor than a partner.

Yet, Google insists that it was to blame for the Nexus One deal falling through, citing “amazing innovation happening across the open Android ecosystem,” whatever that means.

So if you want a Nexus One Google is about the only place you can get one for now.

Dubbed “Project Pink,” the smart phones models will have easy access to a number of different social-networking sites and include keyboards for easier text messaging.

The Project Pink phones are seen as Microsoft’s latest challenge to both Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android OS-based smartphones. Microsoft hasn’t had much success with its Windows-based phones in a market dominated by Apple and with Google quickly making inroads.

Until now, Microsoft has focused on providing its mobile Windows software to phone makers, rather than offering a model under its own brand. The move would echo Google Inc.’s decision to sell the Nexus One phone, which uses that company’s Android operating system. Microsoft is seeking to win back market share in the phone market after Android and Apple Inc.’s iPhone lured away customers from Windows.

By teaming up with Verizon, Microsoft seems to be taking a different path to market than Apple and Google with what would perhaps be its signature smart phone entry.

The only problem with Microsoft and Google entering the market as a handset manufacturer is the risk it poses to the relationships with other handset makers whom they convinced to use their respective OSs. Their competition is going to be awfully leery of using their software if it’s viewed as providing an additional economic advantage in the marketplace.

According to an anonymous Google employee, Verizon Wireless will begin offering Google’s new Nexus One smartphone on March 23.

Tech news website Neowin said the Google Android 2.1-based Nexus One, has passed FCC inspection for use on Verizon’s CDMA network.

“Since the GSM/HSPA Google Nexus One is the PB99100, the PB99300 is likely the CDMA version of the Nexus One, which should be launched via Verizon soon (Google has officially announced that Verizon would support the Nexus One),” says one report.

For Google, launching the Nexus One on Verizon Wireless’ leading wireless network is key to gaining more traction on the mobile Web, as it will enable more users to use Google applications and see more ads.

“When we introduced Nexus One, we announced that Verizon would be a carrier partner and the device would be available in the spring,” says a Google spokesperson. “However, we haven’t announced a specific date yet.”

Pricing and fees not yet known but our source said they would be “competitive” with other carriers.

Currently, users may buy the an unlocked version of the device from Google for $529, and from T-Mobile for $179 with a two-year contract.

In other news, Verizon Wireless has been slapped with a class-action lawsuit over $1.99 data fees alleged to have been improperly charged to non-smartphone customers.