So 1.0 owners have to start paying the monthly fee immediately?

[Duuude007]

"beta" -> Not sent to stores. Stores have nothing to do with it. Grasp more straws mate, your knuckles are bleeding

... I thought he was referring to something else, there is no need for you to be so childish about it.

Fine. Since you want to play revisionist with the facts, I will post the old timeline, and interpret what they mean. People can judge for themselves which is the most accurate.
Blue text is my notes.

• ・Late November to Early December (2011) – Monthly subscription fees begin (PC)
• Which was later revised to Jan 6th, 2012.
• ・Late November to Early December (2011) – Patch 1.20
• Which was later revised to Dec 15th, 2011.
• ・Early February 2012 – Patch 1.21
• Which was later revised to Mar 8th, 2012.
• ・February 2012 – Development test server reconstruction complete
• Based on patch schedule likely shifted to around Mar 2012.
• ・Mid April 2012 – Patch 1.22
• Which was later revised to Mar 25th, 2012.
• ・April 2012 – Version 2.0 client system complete
• - Commence porting of current game content to version 2.0 client
• Based on patch schedule likely shifted to around May 2012.
• ・June 2012 – Worldwide launch of new promotion trailer at E3
• Which was delayed due to development prioritization, until Late Jul.
• ・Early to Mid July 2012 – Patch 1.23
• Which was later revised to Jul 25th, 2012.
• ・September to October 2012 – Begin distribution of version 2.0 software for PC
• Which was later revised to Dec, 2012.
• - Begin distribution of PlayStation®3 system beta version
• Which was later revised to Jun, 2013.
• ・October to November 2012 – Reinstate limited free trial period for PC version
• - Commence PlayStation®3 system closed beta test
• Which was later revised to Jun, 2013. Anyone who registered a FFXIV account has access on PC Beta 3 and forward. Yoshida said to consider this a trial (with partial NDA) despite some content not yet in place.
• Somewhere after Jun 2013: Beta 4 (open beta) with NDA lifted, followed by early access for preorders & Legacy.
• ・Post-January 2013 – Version 2.0 client (PC and PlayStation®3 system) goes on sale
• Which was later revised to Jul 27, 2013.
• - Free trial period ends
• Ends the same day the game (early access) goes live.
• Somewhere after Jul 2013: 2 week welcome back campaign begins.
• *The aforementioned dates are subject to change.
• Need I say more.

Based on the above notes, it is obvious that the trial was meant to last from beta 3 until the end of beta 4.

Effectively 6 weeks.

[SkyeWindbinder]

... I thought he was referring to something else, there is no need for you to be so childish about it.

Fine. Since you want to play revisionist with the facts, I will post the old timeline, and interpret what they mean. People can judge for themselves which is the most accurate.
Blue text is my notes.

• ・Late November to Early December (2011) – Monthly subscription fees begin (PC)
• Which was later revised to Jan 6th, 2012.
• ・Late November to Early December (2011) – Patch 1.20
• Which was later revised to Dec 15th, 2011.
• ・Early February 2012 – Patch 1.21
• Which was later revised to Mar 8th, 2012.
• ・February 2012 – Development test server reconstruction complete
• Based on patch schedule likely shifted to around Mar 2012.
• ・Mid April 2012 – Patch 1.22
• Which was later revised to Mar 25th, 2012.
• ・April 2012 – Version 2.0 client system complete
• - Commence porting of current game content to version 2.0 client
• Based on patch schedule likely shifted to around May 2012.
• ・June 2012 – Worldwide launch of new promotion trailer at E3
• Which was delayed due to development prioritization, until Late Jul.
• ・Early to Mid July 2012 – Patch 1.23
• Which was later revised to Jul 25th, 2012.
• ・September to October 2012 – Begin distribution of version 2.0 software for PC
• Which was later revised to Dec, 2012.
• - Begin distribution of PlayStation®3 system beta version
• Which was later revised to Jun, 2013.
• ・October to November 2012 – Reinstate limited free trial period for PC version
• - Commence PlayStation®3 system closed beta test
• Which was later revised to Jun, 2013. Anyone who registered a FFXIV account has access on PC Beta 3 and forward. Yoshida said to consider this a trial (with partial NDA) despite some content not yet in place.
• Somewhere after Jun 2013: Beta 4 (open beta) with NDA lifted, followed by early access for preorders & Legacy.
• ・Post-January 2013 – Version 2.0 client (PC and PlayStation®3 system) goes on sale
• Which was later revised to Jul 27, 2013.
• - Free trial period ends
• Ends the same day the game goes live.
• Somewhere after Jul 2013: 2 week welcome back campaign begins.
• *The aforementioned dates are subject to change.

Need I say more.

Um... what does this have to do with SE deciding not to give PC players the free trial?

[Duuude007]

Um... what does this have to do with SE deciding not to give PC players the free trial?

It is proof that they are still giving the free trial.

<psst> its called B3 and B4.

[Nix]

It is proof that they are still giving the free trial.

<psst> its called B3 and B4.

B3 and B4 are not free trials.

You don't sell a game, say "Here's 30 days free!... But you could have only redeemed those 30 days during beta."

Free trial means you are waived a subscription fee during a time when you would normally have to pay.
Last time I checked, people don't pay for beta access.

[Duuude007]

B3 and B4 are not free trials.

Then why would Yoshida say it is.

- All FFXIV service account holders qualify as testers in phase 3.

[source]

You get free access if you played 1.0, without need to apply to beta. In B3 practically everything in launch is present.
You can try it out as if it were the international Open beta. There are no preconditions that you must treat it as a bug-hunting test to gain access to phase 3. Only a partial NDA.

tri·al (trl, trl) n.

• The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof: a trial of one's faith.
• An instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments: a clinical trial of a drug.
• An effort or attempt: succeeded on the third trial.

Trial. 'Nuff said.

[SkyeWindbinder]

It is proof that they are still giving the free trial.

<psst> its called B3 and B4.

I thought a "beta" was a "test period" of the game. Isn't there a difference between testing something and getting a free trial of it?

[Nix]

I thought a "beta" was a "test period" of the game. Isn't there a difference between testing something and getting a free trial of it?

You are right, Skye~♪

[Abriael]

It is proof that they are still giving the free trial.

<psst> its called B3 and B4.

<psst> A beta is not a free trial. A beta is a beta. It's not made to try the game for free. It's made to help test it, and it's not good to ascertain the final quality of a game.

Grasping at more straws I see.

Then why would Yoshida say it is.

Only, he never said it is. Beta =/= free trial.