Microsoft and Zend have come to an agreement aimed at increasing the speed with which PHP scripts will run on Microsoft Windows and its web server Internet Information Services (IIS).

PHP is the leading scripting language when it comes to creating dynamic web sites, and is open-source. As PHP currently runs faster in non-Microsoft environments such as Linux with Apache web server, this puts IIS at a competitive disadvantage. Not to mention, Linux and Apache can be had for little to no up front cost.

Up until now, PHP scripts in IIS have had to endure running through an extra step, significantly reducing speed as compared to the same script running in a Linux and Apache environment. Now, after the deal, Microsoft will develop a FastCGI add-in for IIS which will significantly speed up the processing of PHP scripts served by IIS.

Microsoft plans to release the FastCGI add-in for IIS as a free release on the IIS website.

Sources: Informationweek.com article, Zend announcement