Nokia reported better than expected sales this past quarter of their Lumia Windows Phone. Though Nokia is still reeling from their old Symbian operating system, there is finally some potential in the numbers. Over 1 million sold.

There is however a lot of catching up to do in order to make Windows Phones into anything that can rival Android or iOS. This is not because of any lack of technological expertise, but because of the marketplaces and head start in development that is in place on the other two platforms. With Digital Out of Home and mobile interactivity, companies have been building cross platform solutions, with almost none of them available on Windows Phones yet.

Developers who take advantage of all available platforms will enable their products to have the widest customer base. Even though the other phone companies are still leaps and bounds ahead, with the steep decline of RIM and a much more accessible price point, Windows Phones will begin to gobble marketshare. Microsoft has interests in DOOH, such as some of the work that they have done with Intel, and of course, the fact that so much digital signage and content software runs on Windows.

Microsoft would do well here to find a way to make their phones as interactive with their other platforms as possible, something that is sure to come. Apple and Google are so popular because their software links to other platforms so well, like iTunes and Google Maps. Microsoft could leverage its presence across the space to build out extremely effective and compatible forms of mobile engagement.