Public goes dotty over .Scot online domains

Scottish Scouts are keen to use the new domain name. Picture: PA

Jesus.scot and Oor Wullie.scot were among the first to be purchased from 2pm yesterday.

Among the other 1,500 domains snapped up in the first 60 seconds were Labour.scot, Braveheart.scot, the45percent.scot, Cocacola.scot and Facebook.scot. One customer registered 20  different .scot domains.

It became available after the international regulatory body for domain space, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, expanded the number of generic Top Level Domains to include .scot.

Not-for-profit company Dot Scot Registry was created to apply for and operate the .scot domain.

Buyers can expect to pay around £20 to £25 for a one-year registration.

Businesses and groups were given the opportunity to register in July, including the Scouts. Graham Haddock, Scouts Scotland chief commissioner, said: “Online is where many people get information about Scouts.”

Director of Dot Scot Registry Gavin McCutcheon said: “It is entirely right that Scotland should have its own distinctive and recognisable internet domain, in particular one that will resonate internationally, helping to promote Scottish business and culture throughout the world.

“I am confident the .scot domain name will prove a real asset to the people of Scotland and worldwide family of Scots.”

Finance secretary John Swinney said: “I look forward to www.gov.scot being adopted in the coming months as the  primary web address for the Scottish Government.”