Google is pretty much the only web service that stays away from php and mostly because it didn't exist when google started. They have around 100 employees working with php. They actually use C/C++ and java and they glue them together with python.
PHP isn't slow at all. As a matter of fact it is very quick if written well. Forget about websites and stuff like that. Most SOAP services are ran through PHP. Smartphone apps with in application payments that charge you directly from your monthly bill-here comes the shock of everyone who thinks php is dead-that is driven by PHP.
With direct access to the system php is pretty much limitless in terms of functionality. 5.4 came out, a lot has been going on about version 6 as well so... No it isn't dead and won't be for a long time ahead.
PHP isn't slow at all. As a matter of fact it is very quick if written well. Forget about websites and stuff like that. Most SOAP services are ran through PHP. Smartphone apps with in application payments that charge you directly from your monthly bill-here comes the shock of everyone who thinks php is dead-that is driven by PHP.
With direct access to the system php is pretty much limitless in terms of functionality. 5.4 came out, a lot has been going on about version 6 as well so... No it isn't dead and won't be for a long time ahead.