EXHIBIT 5.1
 
               OPINION OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
 
                                          June 9, 1998
 
Socket Communications, Inc.
37400 Central Court
Newark, CA 94560
 
    RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    We have examined the Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3
to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about June
9, 1998 (the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a total of 7,554,054 shares of your
Common Stock (the "Shares"), to be offered for sale by the Selling Stockholders
named therein. We understand that the shares are to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders to the public as described in the Registration Statement. As legal
counsel for Socket Communications, Inc., we have examined the proceedings taken,
and are familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken, by you in connection
with the sale and issuance of the Shares.
 
    It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken or
contemplated by us, as your counsel, to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares, the Shares, when sold in the manner described in the Registration
Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
 
    We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, including the prospectus constituting a part thereof, and further
consent to the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement
and any amendments thereto.
 
                                         Very truly yours,
 
                                         WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                          Professional Corporation
 
                                         /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI