I previously wrote of Facebook’s possible challenge to dethrone Google as the #1 website with its new email service, Facebook Messages. I also mentioned in my blog that this new service from Facebook sounded a lot like Google’s failed Google Wave.

Well, apparently I was not the only one who noticed the similarities. Now, Apache is stepping up as an alternative to both Google Wave and Facebook Messages. Apache announced early last week that it will be picking up where Google left off with its new Apache Wave. This announcement got me thinking. Maybe Google abandoned its idea too early or perhaps the idea was just made available to the public too early? Either way, I have more confidence in Apache’s security than Facebook’s (Apache makes one of the more widely used web server systems) and I am excited to see how Apache will reinvent Wave.

Apache could be just the thing to get Wave back up with a higher number of users while challenging Facebook to make its Messages system even better. Which one do you think will come out on top?

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-Chad Breske

Facebook has become one of the largest websites in the world, with around 500 million unique visitors monthly (second only to Google).  And last week, Facebook made an announcement that shows they aren’t ok with being #2.

Last week, Facebook announced they plan to change the way they do messaging, which includes adding an email service, they are calling Facebook Messages. To me it sounds a lot like Google Wave which was a failed attempt by Google to shape the future of email—maybe Facebook can do it better.

My main concern is how secure is the new Facebook Messages will be. I’m sure some of you have heard of the Firesheep plugin going around, and Facebook is one of the sites vulnerable to Firesheep hijacking. I believe Facebook will have to fix that major vulnerability before their messaging technology becomes more widely used.

Another big announcement from Facebook? MySpace announced that they were going to allow users to login to their Facebook accounts through MySpace.

It appears Facebook is not happy with just being the 2^nd largest website and wants to be the biggest, and who can blame them. They have grown quickly and don’t seem to be slowing down. Google is known for being innovative, and frankly I think a little challenge from Facebook will compel them to find new inventive solutions and applications–which in turn will hopefully improve all of our online experiences.

What do you think about Facebook’s growing dominance on the Web?

Read more blogs from 41 Stories.

-Chad Breske