FPL Rolls Out More Efficient Fast
March 2, 2009
FIX Protocol Ltd. (FPL) has released a new version of its FIX adapted for streaming (Fast) protocol that is designed to offer greater efficiency. Initially introduced in 2005, the Fast message-compression technology allows for high-speed delivery of market data.
FPL’s market data optimization working group--responsible for the development of Fast--consulted with users on the enhancements, which include greater compatibility with FIX for enumerations, timestamps and Boolean data types. Fast 1.2, which can be downloaded from the FPL Web site, is compatible with 1.1, launched December 2006.
Rich Shriver, a member of the FPL working group and managing director of technology at New York-based consultancy Jordan & Jordan, noted that in working on a set of guidelines for Fast implementation, they found areas where the protocol could be improved. One goal, he said, was to facilitate the use of FIX over Fast. The new version will enable existing FIX users to better leverage Fast’s ability to optimize data and increase the speed of transmission.
“There are users and vendors who are using FIX over Fast today,” noted Shriver. “Fast provides a standard to improve technology efficiency of the transfer of information. The message-optimization capabilities of Fast will be more readily available in a FIX-over-Fast implementation.”
