Genetic genealogist Jennifer Zinck has posted in the ISOGG Facebook group about a huge change to FTDNA's policy for transferring tests: it's going to be free, and it starts next week.

The catch? Only the top 20 matches will be shown unless the person pays or gets four other people to upload their Ancestry data, and existing FTDNA users won't see the match unless the person pays. (The new transfer cost is $39.)

Someone has suggested that FTDNA let us pay to unlock others' matches for them. If you think it's a good idea, definitely add your voice and tell FTDNA.

This is pretty exciting. Maybe we can get some of our matches here who have ignored our GEDmatch begging to try out FTDNA instead.

It's good for Ancestry, too. Those who don't want to support Ancestry and their lack of chromosome browser may find it hard to resist the fact that it's better value if not just flat-out cheaper to test here and transfer, with the benefits of keeping a horse in the Ancestry race just in case and not having to pay FTDNA if the top 20 matches aren't compelling.

Off to start working on a "Hey, guess what?" letter to beg those GEDmatch-resisting cousins!

(I'm not the biggest FTDNA fan, but this seems to be a clever way to grow the database there and maybe increase the number if people who will post trees/surnames. Will Ancestry be motivated to add value to their test in response? Maybe if so many people transfer that FTDNA becomes quite attractive to the average person as a primary testing place because of their storage and other tests, but that day seems far off and dependent on FTDNA to develop mad marketing skills. Still, things just got interesting again!)