One of three new handsets that LG will be unveiling during L'Oreal Fashion Week next month, the LG Wine will be a Bell Mobility exclusive, a thin, but very slender clamshell covered in reflective and mirrored surfaces, which in the case of the gold version (it also comes in black) gives it a constant shimmer. Bell has yet to announce a release date and full pricing details, but LG says to expect to pay $80 under a three-year contract. Its a simple phone in purpose, geared towards the social creature with a feature set designed for messaging, taking snapshots, and getting GPS directions to parties and events.

Thin, light, but very long, the Wine will extend past your ear and way down to your chin, giving a comfortable feel against the face. It has a wide, large, back-lit keypad which is very comfortable for exchanging text messages as well as instant messages through Windows Live ($8 subscription fee needed). The option is also there to use e-mail through Windows Live, but with a keypad the text messaging is probably the better solution.

There are four dedicated short keys under the main display to access GPS, web services (news, weather, etc.), your favorite app, and the camera. In addition to the main 2.2" LCD display, there is a second, external display hidden underneath the cover's shimmer casing to display a clock and incoming calls.

GPS is achieved with Bell's GPS Nav application ($8 subscription required) which allows you to look up addresses on a vector-based, but zoomable map. You can then have it map out directions in both a 2D and 3D view complete with updated traffic information. The Wine comes equipped with a strong external speaker making it very easy to hear the GPS' synthesized voice directions, which routinely offer intelligent information and can be directed to repeat itself with a quick push of the talk button.

The Wine also includes voice control for dialing and opening applications, the "say a command" feature. As with the GPS, the clarity of the external speaker makes it very easy to hear the phone's computerized voice, which can als be used for messaging alerts ("message received").

You can surf the web using Bell's new Mobile Web Browser, but you will only be able to access mobile versions of websites. Some, such as our own CTV.ca cannot load at all are are inaccessible.

The camera is but a mere 1.3 Megapixels with no option for recording videos. It does include a timer, colour filters, brightness/whaite balance adjustments, night mode, and resolution controls making it worthy for quick snaps and simple picture messaging.

What is missing from the handset I've been given to preview is an option for playing music. There's no application loaded into the phone itself, nor any available for download through Bell's online store, but I'm sure that will be added later. As there is no slot for adding memory cards, its not a major focus anyway.

It is a simple phone with rather pleasing aesthetics and with its large keypad (a feature many people ask me about) it will do quite well next month.