It looks like they'll be wanting to start the beta fairly 'soon', considering if they want a 2010 release date and they want the beta to last longer than FFXI's, they don't really have much time.

I wish they wouldn't drip feed us only slight information. Look at NCSoft for example - they are great with keeping the fanbase up to date with what is going on in the developers side, and they keep close communication with premiere fanmade communities. I really wish SE were like that...