Details on how to get your own beta account: Basicly the only way to get in right now is to get an invite from a current user - which "random" users are given the option to invite up to 5 people or something like that.
Well check out this website:
Gmail Swap - It is set up where you, normal person can ask/beg/SWAP something in return for an invite. (I posted links to some hot air balloon pictures and said if someone enjoyed them, send me an invite - and it worked.) (NOTE: Invites are also for sale on eBay - tons of them, between $1-$10)
Anyway, if you REALLY want an account early to try to pick a some-what unique name - check out that site. If not, I'm guessing it will be public within a month... but that is just my guess. (I don't think it's worth paying anything of value)