does it makes sense? a protocol designed for speed as well as resiliency that eliminates the FIX layer for high performance order execution?
The FAST protocol is intended to be a "faster" version of the FIX protocol. The quantity of extra processing it requires means that it is only faster "on the wire" however and so will not be very effective for those with boxes at exchange. @dumbcoder is, as usual, correct about optimization and high-powered machines being the best way of reducing latencies. That FIX isn't inherently slow, dependent on your implementation, is also very important. Sell-side and HFT implementations are much faster than the cheaper ones used by the hedgies and investors.