Microsoft released Windows Phone 7.5 to the world on Tuesday but the company also unveiled users options for Internet tethering with the latest update.

Windows Phone 7.5 includes the ability for end users to share their Internet connection with up to 5 devices at the same time. Microsoft revealed on Tuesday that only new Windows Phone 7.5 devices will be able to take advantage of the feature due to some hardware differences. “This feature will only be available on new Windows Phones that have radios capable of broadcasting a connection,” said Microsoft’s Ben Rudolph in a blog post on Tuesday.

The tethering feature is also controlled by mobile operators. If a mobile operator chooses to enable the feature then users will see an “Internet Sharing” option under the main settings of Windows Phone 7.5. The feature was originally discovered during the beta phase of Windows Phone 7.5 “Mango” but Microsoft officially recognized the feature on Tuesday.

Some AT&T Samsung Focus users were able to enable the Internet Sharing option using copies of Windows Phone 7.5 build 7720.68. It’s not immediately clear whether this is still possible with the final operator updates of Windows Phone 7.5 being pushed to devices on Tuesday.

Update: It appears existing devices may get tethering support if device manufacturers and operators decide to update the Wi-Fi drivers on current devices. Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore revealed that Internet Sharing requires a new Wi-Fi driver to be provided for existing handsets. “I suspect most will do this, but it will take time,” he said in a Twitter message that has subsequently been deleted. Miscc.net was able to capture his remarks.