https://us.battle.net/account/sc2/starter-edition/ (https://us.battle.net/account/sc2/starter-edition/)
http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/news/?d=2011-8#31710 (http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/news/?d=2011-8#31710)
No chat channels. Sad day.
Makes sense though, and I'm sure you can understand why.
Though I do agree, it kinda sucks.