TORONTO -- Shares of Research In Motion (TSX:RIM) climbed more than 10 per cent today in heavy volume trading.

The jump comes a day after the BlackBerry maker announced a crucial step towards releasing its new devices.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based company's stock gained 80 cents or 10.15 per cent to $8.68 in trading of 6.7 million shares.

The jump in the company's stock added to a 3.7 per cent rise on Wednesday when the company said its new BlackBerry smartphones are being tested by 50 phone carriers around the world.

The testing process will ensure the devices are compatible with their systems.

President and CEO Thorsten Heins called the move a "key step" for the BlackBerry phones and BlackBerry 10 operating system.

RIM aims to have the new devices on store shelves in the first quarter of 2013.