* RIM results, forecast top expectations

* Stock jumps 21 percent in after-hours trade

* Q4 EPS 90 cents vs 72 cents a year earlier

* Says now has 25 million subscribers (Adds details, CEO comment, updates stock. In U.S. dollars)

By Wojtek Dabrowski

TORONTO, April 2 (Reuters) - Research In Motion (RIM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) (RIMM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) posted surprisingly strong quarterly earnings on Thursday and offered a rosy outlook that signaled further growth despite the global economic slowdown as consumers embrace its newest BlackBerry smartphones.

The results, which also revealed RIM now has a total of about 25 million BlackBerry subscribers, sent the company's shares about 21 percent higher in after-hours trade.

RIM's profit rose to $518.3 million, or 90 cents a share, in its fourth quarter ended Feb. 28, from $412.5 million, or 72 cents, a year earlier.

The results topped the expectations of analysts, which had been dampened by a profit warning that RIM delivered in February.