Google, Facebook to Spar at This Week's Web 2.0 Conference

Reuters has a great overview of this week's upcoming Web 2.0 conference, which begins Monday in San Francisco. While a possible AOL-Yahoo hookup will command some attention, all eyes are on Facebook and Google as they both try and hit each other where it hurts. For example, it's widely expected that Facebook will unveil a new messaging system that will be more e-mail-like. Techcrunch reports that Facebook employees call it a "Gmail killer."

It's a battle to control your default online identity, and it's playing out before your eyes. The only problem is: who do you root for?

The technology industry's latest rivalry takes centerstage next week when Internet powers Google Inc and Facebook lay out their competing visions to create a new generation of Web services at a high-profile conference in San Francisco.

The relationship between the two Internet icons has become increasingly confrontational, and the battle will likely intensify on Monday when Facebook is expected to introduce a revamped version of its messaging technology that could pose a challenge to Google's Gmail. Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Google Chief Eric Schmidt will each take the stage, along with dozens of other Internet industry heavyweights, during the 3-day Web 2.0 conference that kicks off Monday.

Read the full story at Reuters.