According to the news on their page since 26-05-2010, with the add of a micro transaction system Star Alliances is now free to play…

Dark Sky Entertainment has announced the launch of Star Alliances, a new online game which gives the player massive amounts of customization with the ability to jump into the midst of interstellar war instantly. Unlike Beyond Protocol, the other game made by Dark Sky Entertainment, Star Alliances focuses more on the intensity of fighting for supremacy, and less on the complex strategy of building an empire.

KEY FEATURES

* Massively multiplayer real-time strategy game
* Join thousands in a persistent and epic galactic conflict
* Earn influence by defeating your enemies
* Use that influence to advance your military by upgrading your unit and structure designs
* Coordinate with other members of your faction to defend and attack other factions
* Control systems and wormholes to move the fight deeper into enemy territory
* Huge playing arena, battle on planets and in space simultaneously in a large galaxy
* Conquer planets to acquire resources to fuel your military
* Easy methods to jump in and join the war effort immediately