The Scottish Government has asked UK communications minister Ed Vaizey to back a bid to create a distinct "dotSCOT" internet identity.

Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has written to Mr Vaizey asking him to back the not-for-profit company Dot Scot Registry (DSR).

Under the company`s plans, Scottish websites could have the suffix ".scot" at the end instead of ".com" or ".co.uk".

The International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced in the summer that the application window for new Top Level Domains (TLDs) will open for a three month period from January 12th next year.

Hundreds of bids for domains are expected to be submitted, including dotNYC, dotLONDON, dotBERLIN, and dotCYMRU in a process that will expand greatly the number of domains or web addresses available to internet users.

Mr Neil said: "The Scottish Government is behind this company because we believe there is strong demand for a dotSCOT domain and that it should be run as a public resource on a not-for-profit basis that will quickly become self-financing.

"I am sure the UK Government with its responsibility for internet governance will want to support us.

"Across the board support would undoubtedly strengthen our hand and build momentum behind the bid.

"DotSCOT will be a wonderful asset for establishing a distinctive online identity for many organisations and people who have been described as the worldwide family of Scots and want to demonstrate that identity online."