MMORPG.com tidbit.. thought i'd share.

[Asgardx]

So then the question is. If we get beta in winter, does beta last until retail? or are we going to be swapping between beta and current. :\

[Mikita]

During his time onstage at Gamescon, Yoshi P said that the Alpha test would be this autumn and the Beta test would come in winter. So official launch will be after that... possibly early next year if there isn't too much delay after the Beta closes?

[Holland]

Source.

I stand corrected