Background and Objective: Smoking is a major public health problem in France. Several types of interventions are available to help smokers quit, including dedicated smoking cessation hotlines. The objective of this article is to provide an overview, through a review of the literature, of the effectiveness and optimal organizational models for this type of intervention. Results and discussion: Telephone-based smoking cessation support is effective for motivated smokers and is an intervention recommended by many international organizations. Furthermore, while there is no consensus on the “ideal” protocol for telephone-based smoking cessation support, certain characteristics are associated with greater effectiveness: telephone support is more effective when proactive follow-up over three to five calls (including a follow-up call to assess progress and prepare for quitting) is provided. Each telephone session could last 10 to 15 minutes, though the number of follow-up calls appears to matter more than their duration. The counseling approach would involve adapting motivational interviewing techniques and cognitive-behavioral approaches to the telephone medium. Finally, follow-up is more likely to prevent relapse if several follow-up calls are made during the first two weeks.[author’s abstract]